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THE OLD MAN (^F THE MOUNTAIN. 



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PUBLISHED KOI; THE 

() S T O N 1) K A F - M U T E S' MISSION. 
LniK.\i;v ]\<><>M. "i-s!* Washington Stkkkt. 

IS 74. 



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C01>YKIGIIT DEPOSIT. 



A DVENT U R E S 



DEAF - MUTE. 




THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN. 



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ri r.i.isn ;.i . im: tiik 
B ( ) S T O N I ) E A F -MUTES' MISSION, 

I.ir.i; \i;\ R.OOM, "_' s '.l WASHINGTON StkKKT. 

1874. 



.5 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1S74, by 

WILLIAM 13. SWETT, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



(I Cashman, 15, Corn hill, 



INTRO!) I'CTION. 



M 



. ANY persons who visited the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and 



particularly the Profile House, in ism;, and later years, will readily rec- 
ognize the hero of these adventures, and the incidents connected therewith, 
and will doubtless hear testimony to their truth. The measuring of " The old 
Stone Face," and the placing of the images of the ■• Panther" and the •• In- 
dian'* upon Eagle Clifl", will he remembered as hazardous adventures success- 
fully accomplished, and Mi:. William Ii. Swf.it lias the honor of their achieve- 
ment. 

Born at Ilenniker. N. II., in 1824, with the full use of all his senses, hut 
losing his hearing while yet a lad, he was sent to the Institution for the Deaf 
and Dumb at Hartford. Conn., and after completing the usual course of studies 
there, returned to his home, and for awhile pursued the calling of his father, — 
that of a carpenter and joiner. His capacity as a ready and faithful workman 
procured him permanent work at the Mountains, where his restless and ad- 
venturous spirit brought him into many awkward and dangerous positions, 
from which, however, he always emerged right-side up. 

A ready thinker, and fluent in the use of the sigu language, his talents have 
brought him, of late, into other pursuits, having in view the welfare and im- 
provement of his fellow-unfortunates. Prominent in all such movements, he 
became interested in several societies of Deaf-Mutes, among which are the 
Boston Dkaf-Mutes' Library Association, and the Boston Deaf-Mute 
Mission. This volume is published and the profits will be devoted to the 
purposes of the " Mission," whose object is to provide for the religious welfare 
of Deaf-Mutes. With this ■•Mission" Mr. Swett is now more particularly 
identified, and issues this narrative of his Adventures in the hope that a large 
sum may inure to the benefit of this much-needed and now prosperous enter- 
prise. All purchasers will therefore understand that they are aiding directly 
in the promotion of the highest interests of Deaf-Mutes. 



(iii) 



II. w. S. 




WM. B. SWBTT, 

White Mountain Adeenturer. 



(4) 



A D V E N T IT R E S 

OF A 

DEAF-MUTE IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, 



FIRST SUM MEE. 

HOW J HAPPENED TO GO TO TUP MOUNTAINS. 

"TTARLY in the year 1865, the proprietors of the Profile House, in 
the Franconia Mountains, finding repairs and additions necessary 
to their hotel, advertised for a large gang of workmen. 

I received a pressing invitation to go up and work. The wages were 
good, and expenses paid both ways. 

I hesitated, — there was work enough at home; I had never been out 
of work a single day, having always been sought for to do all kind-- of 
work both in and out of town. I was acknowledged to be a skilful and 
stead}' workman. I hesitated, also, because my family and myself had 
been thrown into deep mourning by the recent death, from diphtheria, of 
two of our children, our only boy and a girl; but after a few days of 
reflection and consultation with my family. I decided to go. 

I may as well say here. that, while the wages offered were very accept- 
able, they had in it so much to do with my decision as had a desire to see 
a place of which J had heard so much, and an idea that there would he 
<onie chance to gratify my love of adventure. 

Of adventure I subsequently had a good deal, as will he shown in the 
course of my story. 

I notified several persons, who were waiting for me to do some work 
for them, that they must find some one else to do it, as I must go. Thcv 
told me that they would wait until my return ; and. bidding in}' famih 
good-by, I was whirled away over the iron track. 

At Concord, X. II.. while waiting lor the train from Boston, I noticed 
a strange-looking old man in the depot. His hair and beard were long 
and white, giving him a very patriarchal look. 

The day was xwy cold, but he wore a straw hat and thin summer 
clothes, and his neck and feel were hare. He walked about with great 
activity, taking snuff frequently from a bladder, which served him in- 

I 5 i 



6 

stead of a box. He looked sharply at every one, and spoke to me once ; 
but -when I put a finger to my ear and shook 1113- head, he walked away. 
I wondered who and what he was, and inclined to think him either in- 
sane or very odd. I have since seen him going about the streets of 
Concord barefooted, and dressed in thin clothes, when the snow lay a 
foot deep on the ground. 

His name is Flagg ; he lives in a log cabin at Pembroke, about fifteen 
miles from Concord. He professes to be a water-cure doctor, and is 
about seventy-five years old. 

Speculation in the various forms in which human nature crops out, 
helped me to pass away the time till the train came along. 

Before reaching Lake Village, the train stopped at a small station for 
a supply of wood and water. Here a very ragged and dirty little boy 
annoyed the passengers by passing up and down in the cars. Meeting 
the conductor, a large and powerful man, he pushed past him and would 
have gone out, but the conductor seized him and actually threw him out 
of a window upon a wood-car that was slowly moving in an opposite 
direction. This little incident made every one roar with laughter. The 
bo} r was not hurt, though he was probably somewhat frightened. 

After passing Lake Village, I caught my first glimpse of the peak of 
Mount Washington, the highest of all the White Mountains. Its summit 
was wrapped in snow, and its sublime appearance gave me much food 
for thought. 

As we rode along, I caught occasional glimpses of sheets of water, 
and at last the broad and beautiful Lake Winnipiseogee lay before me. 
I no longer wondered at the name given it by the Indians, if, as some 
say, it means "The Smile of the Great Spirit." It has been called the 
kk Loch Lomond " of America. 

Loch Lomond is a lake in Scotland, famous for its beauty, but it is 
generally admitted, by those who have seen both, that Winnipiseogee is 
the most beautiful of the two. 

The late lion. Edward Everett, speaking of a visit to this lake, said : 
•■ I have been something of a traveller in our own country. — though not 
SO much as .1 could wish, -and in Europe have seen all that is mos1 
attractive, from the Highlands of Scotland to the Golden Horn of Con- 
stantinople, — from the summit of the Hartz Mountains to the Fountain 
of Vaucluse ; hut my eye has yet to rest on a lovelier scene than that 
which smiles around you as you sail from Weir's Landing to Centre 
Harbor." 

At the Pemigewasset House, in Plymouth, where the train stopped for 
dinner, I mel thai prince of good fellows, Hiram Bell, Esq., the landlord 
of the hotel; formerly the well-known and popular landlord of the 
Profile House. It was to him that I was indebted for the invitation to 
< r o and work in the Mountains. 



The deaf-mutes who composed the party which visited the Profile House 
and went up Mount Lafayette, in 1858, will remember Mr. Bell as a 
liberal-hearted man and a genial friend. I shall elsewhere give an ac- 
count of the adventures of this party, in connection with my own. 

As the train neared Well's River, I was standing at the car door, look- 
ing Out, and saw one of the ear wheels fly nil' and roll down the hank. 
The next instant there was a terrible jarring; the stove-pipe was shaken 
out. and the passengers were thrown into confusion. I could hardly 
keep nivl'eet, and concluded that I should he killed. 

Some one gave the signal to " brake up" by pulling the cord that ran 
through the train, and it was stopped without accident. After this we 
moved slowly to the next stopping-place, where the damaged car was 
removed and the train sped on. 

In due time I reached Littleton, from which place are stages to all 
parts of the Mountains. I was so anxious to secure a seat on the top 
of thi' stage, that 1 climbed upon it first and gave orders about my bag- 
gage afterwards. 

Our six stout horses carried us along at a good rate ; on the way, I had 
a fine view of the Mountains. One of the passengers pointed out Mount' 
Lafayette to me. The day was clear, and I could see that snow was fall- 
ing on the mountain-top, while below it was the vast, black ravine in 
which I afterwards nearly lost my life, of which I tell in the proper 
place. 

After passing Franconia, noted lor its iron mine, and as being one of 
the coldest places ill the country, we saw" a snow-storm coming down 
upon us. and for a few moments it completely enveloped and blinded 
lis; when it cleared away. Mount Lafayette looked more majestic than 
before, in its mantle of while. 

All symptoms of life, except ourselves, soon disappeared, and for some 
miles the road was through a gloomy forest, and at the end of this we 
arrived at the Profile House. 

Few of us Inning been prepared for the stoi'm and cold, the tire and 
a hot supper were ven welcome indeed. 

My signs and gestures, and my little slate, of which I made free use 
in talking with my companions, soon attracted the attention of the 
company, to most of whom a deaf-mute was evidently a new thin--. One 
man in particular, an Irishman, who was seated in a corner smokino - a 
pipe, after eyeiny me intent [y for some time, approached me, laid a hand 
on my shoulder, looked me in the face, and then, making the sio-nof the 
cross, he nodded, went back to his seat, and resumed !i ; - pipe, apparently 
satisfied that it was all right. I could not help smiling at his behavior, 
ami did not know what to think of it ; but have since concluded that it 
was his way of either getting acquainted or of expressing sympailiv. 

I retired to bed, but could not sleep; my new situation and my own 



8 

thoughts kept me awake- I could feel the house shake from the action 
of the wind, which was blowing hard, and, gathering extraordinary 
strength from compression in its passage through the Notch, struck with 
great force upon the hotel, which, although a very large building, shook 
like a person with the ague. 

In the morning I was quite sick, having caught a bad cold in my ride 
from Littleton. After breakfast I felt better, and took a walk ; the 
mountains, trees, rocks, and everything were covered with ice — the effect 
of the frost-clouds during the night — and in the rays of the rising sun 
everything glittered and glowed with all the colors of the rainbow. It 
was a magnificent sight ; I thought of the fahy scenes in the " Arabian 
Nights," 

The scene increased in beauty as the sun rose higher, till the frost- 
work began to dissolve in the warmth, and in a short time everything 
had returned to its usual dark and sombre hue. 

My next thought was to visit the '"Great .Stone Face," k ' The Old 
Man of the Mountain." 



- The Old Man of the Mountain" 

I had heard much of this great natural curiosity, and had thought that 
there must be some resemblance to a human profile, but I was not pre- 
pared for the "accurate chiselling and astonishing sculpture" which 
now met my eyes. 

The "Profile" has "a stern, projecting, massive brow, which looks 
as if it contained the thought and wisdom of centuries." The nose is 
"straight, and finely cut." The lips are thin, and slightly parted, as if 
about to speak. The chin is " well thrown forward, and shows the 
hard, obstinate character of the ' Old Man,' who has faced the storms 
of ages with such unmoving steadiness." 

As 1 stood there, and looked at the towering cliff on which the "Old 
Man" is situated, all my appreciation of the grand and sublime in 
nature was awakened ; and. mingled with other thoughts, came longings 
for a closer acquaintance with the -old .Man." and dreams of " doing 
and daring" in those wild regions as none had ever done before. 

To the general observer, who sees the -old .Man" against a clear 
sky. the expression is one of earnest expectation, mingled with that 
■■ heart-sickness produced by hope long deferred." But the expression 
varies with the weather. Sometimes it appears on the point of giving 
utterance to speech ; sometimes it wears a settled scowl, and at others a 
look of more than mortal sadness. 

Clouds passing under the chin or above and around the forehead mate- 
rially soften the expression, and. by bearding and wigging the face, make 



9 

it very lifelike. The best time to see it is in the afternoon, when the 
sun is behind it. After a cold rain, I Lave seen the "Old Man's" face 
glisten beautifully, and wear a smiling look. 

During the four seasons which I have spent at the " Profile House," 
I have studied the "Old Man" in all its aspects as seen from below. 
It had a fascination for nie which drew me to it in storm and in calm, by 
day and by night, in season and out of season. It was a strange and 
unaccountable influence and an irresistible impulse. 

Often as 1 have looked upon the " Old Man," both far and near. 1 am 
not satisfied ; it still has the old attraction for me, and I hope to con- 
tinue my researches in the vicinity. 

Returning to the hotel, 1 spent the rest of the day in looking out of 
the windows upon the grand scenery with which it is surrounded, and in 
recalling to mind the mountain adventures and narrow escapes of which 
I had read, and trying to remember how the persons concerned acted, in 
order to escape the danger they were in. 

I always had a love of adventure, but made it a rule ,; never to gel 
into danger until I had planned how to get out of it " ; and I think it 
very important and useful for people to study and remember how to 
mi in case of exposure to any kind of danger. If this were more gen- 
erally practised, there would be much less loss of life. A person with 
presence of mind has an immense advantage in case of accidents, and 
is worth a hundred who are wild and distracted. Knowledge how to act 
has saved my own life and limbs several times. 

The next day I was able to go to work, and was much amused by the 
whisperings and pointings of my fellow-workmen. They regarded me, 
for some time, a- a strange person, and seemed to be much afraid of my 
slate and pencil. One of them, who stood near me one day when I pulled 
out my slate for some purpose, ran away as fast as possible, showing fear 
on his face : but whether in fun or earnest I did not know, nor did 1 care, 
so long as there was nothing offensive in the manner. In course of time 
the}' got over this, and treated me as one of themselves. 

The Bowling Alley at the foot of Cannon Mountain, so called, had 
been entirely destroyed, and we were ordered to rebuild it. 

It was destroyed in the following manner: 

It snowed for half a day. then a cold rain followed, which froze solid ; 
then fell a foot of snow, and the next day was so warm that the snow 
melted, and not being absorbed by the frozen ground, ran down the 
mountain into the valley. Gulches and ravines were quickly flooded ; 
brooks became rivers, ami cascades grew to cataract-. Behind theallev 
ran a small brook, which, overflowing its banks, undermined it and swepl 
it away. The hotel grounds were Hooded, all the cellars filled with 
water, and much damage was done. After finishing the alley, we were 
put to shingling the Profile House, the size of which may be imagined 



10 

from its taking eight men twelve days to finish the front side only, and 
on that alone thev used lil'tv thousand feet of shingles. 



Snoiv-balling in June. 

One warm day in June, I made one of a party of eight persons which 
ascended Cannon Mountain in search of quartz crystals, the distance 
being about a mile and a half. 

It was my first experience in climbing mountains, and I was soon very 
tired. The path had been damaged by the spring freshets, and the 
ascent, hard at any time, was then unusually so. 

The day was tine, but just as Ave reached the top of the mountain we 
were enveloped in clouds, and could neither go for the crystals or enjoy 
the fine view which can l>e had in clear weather. 

We were obliged cautiously to retrace our steps, lest we should lose 
our way. I was much disappointed, but comforted myself by the re- 
flection that I could come again. 

As we were descending, we saw r , a short distance to one side of the 
path, a patch of snow, about an acre in extent and a foot deep, so 
situated in a hollow that the sun never shone upon it. We left the path 
and went toward it : while looking around, some one proposed a little 
fun. With the feelings of younger days, the members of the party, 
whose ages ranged from thirty-five to sixty, divided into equal bodies 
and took up positions, the agreement being to pelt each other until one 
partv should he driven from the snow. 

The snow was soft, and easily worked, and the snow-halls flew fast and 
furious for more than an hour, when the party to which I belonged were 
driven from the field by a skilful movement of the other party, tinder the 
lead of an old gentleman of sixty, whose tactics would have been useful 
on a more earnest battle-field, and obliged to surrender. 

The severe exercise had stirred our blood and put us in good humor, 
doing much to compensate us for the loss of our original object in com- 
ing up the Mountain : and we resumed our homeward way. well pleased 
the novel and uncommon incident of making and using snow-halls 
in summer. 

At Work in the " Flume" 

I went one <lay with a gang of workmen to repair the bridge over the 
Pemigewassef River, and the footwaj's by which visitors reach the 
•• Flume." The storms and freshets of winter always do more or less 
damage to the bridges, foot-paths, plank-walks, and other contrivances 
for the convenience, comfort and safety of the summer visitors, which 
are not removed at the close of the travelling season. 



1 i 

I will try to give those who have not -ecu it some idea of this greal 
natural curiosity. 

The " Flume " is reached from the bridge across the river, bv a foot-path 
which follows the course of the stream, crossing it often, leading up am! 
over steep rocks, and sometimes following the lied of the stream itself. 
At every step something is seen to admire. 

The stream pours it-elf through the " Finnic" overall inclined plane 
of smooth, polished rock, six hundred feet in length, and very gradual 
in descent. Precipices from sixty to eighty feet high Avail in the waters 
on each side ; the space between them averages about twenty feet, except 
at the upper end, where the walls suddenly approach each other within 
ten feet, and hold suspended between them, in mid-air, an enormous boul- 
der of granite, which looks as if a very small force would send it into the 
stream below, so slight appears its hold between the cliffs. The preci- 
pices on each side are fringed with tall forest-trees, and the sun shines 
into the ravine only about two hours a day. It is at all times a grand 
and gloomy scene. The only way to get up this narrow gorge is by a 
foot-way of planks and logs which is kept in repair by the proprietors. 

A huge tree has fallen across from one side to the other, above the 
boulder, and many persons have crossed the ravine on it. It is a dizzv 
height, and the foothold is not \ovy secure, the log being rotten and 
slippery. 

Having repaired the bridge, we proceeded to the " Flume" to fix up 
the foot-ways. We there found an army of small black flies, or midges, 
as they are called. These troublesome little insects, which are far worse 
than mosquitoes, abound in the woods and all over the mountains, and 
annoy every one with merciless perseverance. They seldom show them- 
selves in the houses, and will keep away from a person who is smoking. 
Ail workmen outside are obliged to make a fire and keep up a smoke. 
in order to be able to work. We built a huge fire at one end of the 
"Flume," and thus kept the Hies away: a gust of wind would some- 
times drive so much smoke in upon us as to compel n.g to drop our 
tools, and run out to avoid suffocation. This hindered US a good deal. 

but we preferred to be smoked out occasionally rather than to hear the 
constant torment of the flies. 

The logs on which the plank foot-way- of the previous summer had 
rested having been washed away, it was necessary for us to cut down 
some trees for new one-: in order to procure what we needed, we 
ascended a narrow path to the lop of one side of the ravine, and, cut- 
ting down the tress, we trimmed them and rolled them over the brink 
into the chasm below. 

Looking over to the opposite side of the ravine, I saw a tall tree 
standing on the edge of the precipice, and determined to rjo across and 
fell it; I wished to see it fall into the "Flume" with all it- branches 



12 

on. Taking my axe, I started over the log I have spoken of as lying 
across the chasm; I had nearly reached the other side when my foot 
struck a projecting knot, I lost ray balance, and what saved me from 
falling was a desperate spring, and my grasp on a bush which grew near 
the edge. I was startled, and it was some time before I could go to 
work ; at last I began to cut down the tree, which soon began to reel, 
and the breeze taking it on the right side, it slowly inclined in the 
desired direction ; 1 ran to a safe distance, and leaned over the edge as 
far as 1 dared, with one hand grasping the branch of a tree, to see it fall. 
It went down head-foremost, and was, to my surprise, considerably 
shorter than the depth of the ravine ; it struck on its head, stood up- 
right for an instant, as if surprised at its novel situation, and then 
its heavy butt-end went down on the bed of the stream with a crash like 
that of a thousand thunders. The earth shook and trembled beneath 
my feet, and the sensations 1 then experienced will never be forgotten. 
1 felled two more trees, but not with the same success, and, we having 
enough for the footways, I looked about for a way to the bottom of the 
ravine. The log by which 1 had crossed was still open to me, and a 
path was on the other side ; but as I did not wish to trust the log again, 
I finally scrambled down the steep side of the precipice, and reached the 
bottom with only a few trifling bruises and scratches. We were obliged 
to work, much of the time, in three or four feet of water, which was 
cold as ice, and were very glad when the job was finished. 



Almost an Accident. 

Karl)- on the morning of the Fourth of .Inly, the mulatto hostler of 
the Profile House brought a small cannon, or swivel, into the front yard. 
It had been used, the previous summer, for the entertainment of the 
guests who wished to hear the echoes waked by its discharge on the 
shore of Echo Lake, and had become rusty by long exposure to the 
weather. The mulatto filled the cannon nearly full of tine sporting gun- 
powder, grass and dirt, rammed it down as hard as possible, and then, 
Lighting a match, attempted to discharge it ; failing to do so, he gave 
it up for the present, and left the cannon in the yard. 

Another man came along, discovered how the cannon was loaded, and 
removed it to the back side of the hotel. Having reached a distance 
which \\r considered safe, he inserted a fuse in the priming, lit it, and 
ran away. The cannon burst ; and a piece of iron weighing twenty 
pounds went over the Profile House and buried itself in the front yard, 
less than four fret from one of the guests who was walking there. It 
was very fortunate that the mulatto did not succeed in discharging the 



13 

cannon ; he would have been torn in pieces, and much other damage 
would have been done. 



My First Visit to the " Old Man." 

About the last of Jul}' I determined to pay a visit to the head of the 
"Old Man." While getting ready for the attempt, I thought, if [got 
there. I would set up a pole and raise a flag ; I also concluded to re- 
main on the top of the Mountain until after dark, and then build a large 
bonfire. 1 procured a hatchet, which I always thereafter carried in my 
belt in all my wanderings, a flag ten feet long and five feet wide, a long 
cord, a hag of shavings, and kindling-wood and some provisions; alto- 
gether they made a heavy load to cany to the top of the Mountain, a 
mile and a half, on a hot day in summer. 

At one o'clock, i\ m., 1 left the Profile House, and commenced the 
ascent of Cannon Mountain, so called from there being, near its top, a 
roek, which, seen from a certain point, resembles a cannon mounted on 
a carriage ; it is also called Profile Mountain, as it is on its side that the 
'•Old Man " is situated. 

1 followed the footpath, and found it very hard work to get along 
■with my load, but reached the top, and deposited it in a convenient place 
for use at the proper time. After resting a little, I began to descend 
toward the " Old Man," which lies about a mile away in an opposite 
direction from that in which 1 ascended. The way was far more diffi- 
cult than I had supposed; huge rocks were scattered around, among 
and over which 1 had to carefully choose my way. Long before I saw 
any signs of the " Old Man," I was much inclined to give it up ; but I 
remembered that some one had been on the Head before, and that 
"what man has done, man may do." 

I might not be, and probably was not, following the route taken by 
the other party, hut any way to the Head must be; hard and dangerous ; 
so I pushed on, and was finally rewarded, as ] supposed, by arriving at 
the spot i wished to find. Looking about for a flag-staff, I saw that the 
nearest wood was half a mile farther down, and that much of the way to 
it lay along the brink of a frightful precipice. The descent required 
great care; for in some places a slip of the foot would send me to be 
dashed in pieces on the rocks more than a thousand feet, below, and a 
false step any where would he a serious thing. I finally reached the wood, 
and selected a tine stick, fifteen feet long, and five inches in diameter at 
the larger end, which 1 trimmed with my hatchet, and succeeded, after 
immense labor, in transporting to what seemed to he the right place. 

From the spot where I stood I could seethe lake at the foot of the 
Mountain, and many people on the shore. 1 had told no one of mv in- 



14 

tentions when I left the hotel, and now began to regret it. as, if any- 
thing prevented me from getting back, nobody would know where to look 
for me, and the consequences might not be pleasant. However, by get- 
ting on a large rock and waving the flag, I attracted the attention of the 
people, who waved hats and handkerchiefs to show that they saw me. 
1 now felt easier in 1113' mind, as, if I was missed, my location would 
readily be inferred. 

Raising the pole, I placed it in a cleft in a rock, piling large stones 
around it to secure it, and then flung the flag to the breeze. 

I saw it was getting late, and 1 made the best of my way back to 
the place where I had left my load. The descent was hard, as I have 
said, but the return was worse, and I was nearly exhausted before reach- 
ing the top. Selecting a good place near the "Cannon," I spent the 
next two hours in collecting wood, brush, and green spruce-trees ; at the 
end of that time I had a very large pile, under which I arranged the 
kindlings, and sat down to wait for the proper time to set the pile on fire. 
I determined to wait until nine o'clock, because many of the guests would 
then be in the piazza of the hotel, and also because the stages usually 
arrived about that time. It now occurred to me that 1 had not taken 
time to consider the enterprise carefully, in all its bearings, before starting. 

There was no moon ; I had omitted to bring a lantern, and I might 
find it difficult to get back, if 1 was obliged to stay out all night. To 
miss the path would be dangerous in the extreme, and to keep it in the 
darkness would be difficult. 1 might meet with the same mishap as that 
which happened in the year 1859 to Charles Barrett, a wealthy deaf- 
mute of Boston, now dead. lie was one of a party of deaf-mutes who 
had been attending a Convention in Vermont, and were now visiting the 
Profile House. Most of them had made the ascent of Mount Lafayette, 
and they were seated around the lire after supper, enjoying themselves, 
when one of them suddenly asked what became of Mr. Barrett, who had 
not accompanied them up the Mountain. None of them had seen him 
since their return. Investigation proved that he was not about the 
hotel, but, one of the servants remembered having seen him going up 
the path leading to the top of Cannon Mountain, and that he was alone. 
This caused instant alarm, and men were despatched up the Mountain, 
with lanterns, to hunt for him. As the search progressed, his hat, cravat, 
coat, etc., were found in various places. He was finally found far out 
of the regular path, wandering aimlessly and distractedly about, and 
most completely lost. Before him, and directly in his way, was a steep 
precipice, and in all probability a few minutes' delay would have proved 
fatal. When he found that, he was saved, his strength, which was nearly 
exhausted, gave way entirely, and he became unconscious. It was nec- 
essary to carry him most of the way back to the hotel, where a liberal 
use of restoratives soon put him all right. 



15 

Having thought it all over, I concluded to carry out my original plan, 
and proceeded to eat my Luncheon as a beginning. The wind in this 
elevated spot blew quite hard, and I felt chilly, as my clothing was 
damp with perspiration. Finding a cleft in a rock which would protecl 
me from the wind, I crept into it and remained two hours; the large 
bag in which 1 had brought the shavings served me as a shawl, and 1 
was quite comfortable in body, although still somewhat uneasy in mind 
about getting down. 

All was utter silence around me ; the rapidly-increasing darkness, and 
the distance hack, were 1 not pleasant subjects for thoughl. 

L was indeed, for the time. " monarch of all I surveyed " ; but if my 
realm was limited by my vision, it was small indeed, and my crown by 
no means sat lightly on my brow. My watch finally told me, by the aid 
of a match, that, it was nine o'clock, and 1 fired the pile; the wind 
fanned the flame to a huge blaze thirty feet or more in height, which 
illuminated the scene for miles around, and was quickly seen from the 
hotel. They told me afterwards that a cry of " lire " was raised, and 
evei'V one of the three hundred and fifty persons then at the hotel was 
outside in a very few minutes, and enjoyed the scene very much. In 
about half an hour the fire died away ; :is soon as my eyes, which had 
been blinded by the blaze, became accustomed to the darkness, I sel 
out to return ; I could barely see to keep the path, and stumbled and fell 
quite often. 

After a long and tedious journey, I arrived at the Profile House with 
no other damage than a bruised knee. The next morning inquiry was 
made about the fire, and a desire was expressed to see the person who 
made it ; I was sent for and presented to the company, who, on being 
acquainted with the facts, made up a handsome contribution for me. 
The contribution was very welcome, I am free to say ; but I do not think 
that [ would do the same job over again for the same amount. A man 
will sometimes do a thing for his own gratification which he cannot after- 
ward be hired to do at any price. 

Going down to the lake, I was surprised to find that the pole was not 
on the Head, but some distance from it, among a group of rocks called 
•• Adam's Apples." Not content to leave the job half done, I jumped 
into a boat, rowed across the lake, and struck off and up through the 
pathless woods to the pole, which I planted in another place. The Head 
was a very difficult and dangerous place to move or stand on. Return- 
ing to the lake, I found that the pole was in the right place. 

In a I'vw days, work was discontinued on the hotel, as the proprietors 
were obliged to give all their time to 1 he rapidly-increasing number of 
guests, and I was dismissed, with orders to return after the travelling 
season was over. And so ended my first summer at the .Mountains. 



1G 



SECOND SUMMER. 

IX GENERAL. 

r PHE travelling season at the Mountains begins about the last of June 
or by the middle of July, and ends in September, or early in October. 
While at home, during the summer or fall, waiting the close of the 
travelling season, that I might return to the Mountains and watch the 
approach of winter, I laid my plans, and provided things which experi- 
ence and observation had taught me were necessaiy in mountain wan- 
derings : strong clothing, not easily torn by bushes and briars, through 
which I might have to force my way ; a knapsack, drinking-flask, hand- 
axe, etc. I rejected the idea of a gun, as being both inconvenient and 
unnecessary. An axe, I thought, would serve all ordinary purposes of 
oifencc and defence, and in case of the appearance of a bear or other 
large animal, I could run away. My grandfather — a deaf-mute — used 
only to carry a hay-fork when he went after his cows, at a time when 
wild beasts were plenty ; and he said he found it a very efficient weapon. 

Orders at last came for me to return and resume work at the Profile 
House, and I accordingly departed for the Mountains, where, on my 
arrival, I received a hearty welcome. 

The first thing I did after arriving there, was to hurry down to the spot 
from which the " Profile " can best be seen, and take a good look at my 
..Id friend, whose towering form loomed up in the gathering darkness like 
some grim sentinel standing guard over the forest. Having paid my 
respects to him, I returned to the hotel, of which I will give a brief de- 
scription : 

It has four hundred windows, and can accommodate several hundred 
guests. It is built in the form of a cross, and stands on a level plain, 
a few acres in extent, surrounded on all sides by lofty mountains. Its 
front faces the Franconia Notch, through which the waters of the Echo 
and Profile Lakes flow into the Pemigewasset River, and thence into 
Lake Winnipisoegee. It is one of the most convenient, commodious, and 
best-managed hotels in the Mountains; it is within easy distance of 
some of the most interesting of the natural curiosities: Eagle Cliff, 
Echo and Profile Lakes, the Cascade and Falls, the '"Old Man," the 
Basin, Pool, and Flume, Walker's Falls, and other minor objects. Willi 
its telegraph and stage offices, its hosfs of servants and hundreds of 
guests, it is a town in itself. Immense quantities of provisions arecon- 
SUmed, and teams are constantly bringing the necessaries and luxuries 
of life over the .Mountains from Littleton, eleven miles oil', 'flic estab- 
lishment is supplied with pure mountain spring water, than which the 
world know- no better article. The stables are extensive, as the travel 



17 

demands it, and I have often counted three hundred and fifty horses 
stabled :i1 once. 

Echo I. 

A'lowt three-fourths of .1 mile from the Profile House, nestling among 
the hills, and surrounded by n dense growth of trees, lies Echo I. alee, a 
itiful sheet of water, from which can be seen Eagle Cliff, Cannon 
Mountain, and Bald .Mountain. It is remarkable lor its echoes; the 
blowing of a tin horn, or shouting with the voice, will awake the " bab- 
bling gossips of the air," who will return the sounds 'Ait 1 - wonderful 
distinctness; the reporl of a swivel or gun fired in a certain direction, 
will reverberate like peals of thunder among the .Mountains. All this I 
know only from hearsay, and waking the echoes is one of the few occa- 
sions on which 1 1. el my loss of hearing. The best time to visit 
the lake is near sunset, — the magical beauty of the scene can then be 
best understood; and, if a man be in a meditative mood, there is no' 
better place to •• look through nature up to nature's God." 

Take a boat, and row to the middle of the lake, which is about one 
mile Ion;',' and three-quarters of a mile wide, and of great depth and 
clearness, and, by looking down into the water, you can readily im- 
agine yourself floal ing in mid-air. 

1 have twice stolen out ai midnight, and paddled around the lake bv 
moonlight. On one occasion, the report having spread that a bear and 
a t\vcv 'had been seen a: the ml of the lake, my curiosity induced 

me to take a boat and go down to the place by moonlight, to see if any- 
thing was to be seen. Arriving there, I stepped <>n shore, advanced a 
few steps, and peered into- the bushes. I could see nothing ; and the 
perfect stillness around me, together with the strange hour, gave me a 
sudden panic, and I dashed into the boat and swept homeward with all 
possible speed. 

Tht! lake is a very popular resort, and parties often carry musical in- 
struments out in the boats, the playing of which has a very line effect. 
It is one of those places of which the more you see the more you wish 

to see. 

Eagle Cliff. 

On the left of the Profile lions,' is Eagle Cliff, a huge columnar crag, 
which towers far into the air, and seems almost to overhang the hotel, 
although it is in reality quite a distance off. Its top is a huge mass of 
jagged rocks, which leans over so much that it seems ready to fall from 
itsplace. The cliff derives its name from the fact that, high up on its 
face, and plainly visible from the hotel, there is a black-looking hole, 



where, tor many years, a pair of eagles built their nest. Some mischiev- 
ous persons went up one summer, with fire-arms, and frightened them 
away, much to the grief and indignation of the visitors, to whom the 
noble birds had afforded much gratification.' 

I have several times seen eagles sailing about the spot, and occasion- 
ally diving into the woods and then soaring away. I could not, from the 
distance, ascertain whether they obtained any prey, but was much inter- 
ested in their movements, and wished for a nearer view. One day 1 
was watching an eagle who had been hovering about the spot for sonn 
days, when J determined to get nearer, if possible. I plunged into the 
woods, and made my way as directly as I could towards the cliff. Reach- 
ing its foot, I commenced climbing up, taking care to keep out of 
sight of the eagle, who was now directly above me, sailing in a circle. 
I reached the foot of the crag, a distance of about three-quarters of a 
mile, after much exertion, and halted to rest. Through the branches 
above me I saw that the eagle had gone up higher, and 1 was afraid I had 
frightened him away. Wishing to get a better position, I crept cau- 
tiously on nry hands and knees, and had nearly arrived at the place 1 
wished, when I saw a plump rabbit sitting near its burrow. I sat down 
and watched it. In a few minutes I saw a dark object drop rapidly 
from the sky ; the rabbit disappeared in its burrow; and the baffled eagle, 
for it was he, paused a moment, as if considering the situation, and then 
spreading his broad wings, he soared aloft again. lie was only a short 
distance from me, and I had a splendid view of him. He was a noble 
specimen of the king of birds, with broad wings, heavy beak, and pow- 
erful claws. A momentary wish for a gun crossed my mind, but the 
nod, minute 1 was ashamed of myself, for il seemed almost a crime to 
sho »1 such a bird. 

In about five minutes the rabbit appeared again, and almost at the 
same instant the eagle swept down, with a speed which set, the bushes 
and leaves in motion like a breeze; and, grasping the unlucky rabbit in 
its claws, sailed gracefully away over the forest, and disappeared behind 
the cliff. 

Before leaving the spot 1 took a survey of the rocks at the fool of the 
crag, and in one place ! noticed a huge slabof rock standing on itsedge, 
with a. very slight hold on the face of the cliff. It had been loosened 
by frost, or other causes, and was evidently ready to slip or slide down 
the mountain by a very slight force. It would, I think, cover a quarter 
Of an acre, and certainly weighed many tons. 

The next spring, before ihe snow had quite disappeared, I was one 
day going to dinner with the rest of the workmen, when 1 suddenly felt 
a heavy jarring of the earth beneath my feet. At the same instant the 
man behind me gave me a heavy blow on the back, and when I turned 
sharply around, pointed to Eagle Cliff. I looked, and saw that thegreal 



19 

slab before mentioned had gol loose, and gone crashing and tearing 
the foot of the Mountain. Deaf though i was. I was sensible of a ter- 
rible crash and an indescribable roaring. An immense column of smoke 
rose slowly up, and gradually disappeared. 

The next morning 1 was one of a part} who ascended to the spol 
where the slab had been. The immense mass of rock had cleared a path 
for itself for main- rods below, sweeping the trees before it like chaff, and 
iding some of them to powder. Rocks, large and small, were scat- 
tered far and wide, as they had been hurled from the path of the slab in 
its passage downward. I have seen snow-avalanches sweep down a 
mountain-side, and carry much before them, but this, being a solid mass 
of rock, far exceeded t hem in destructive force. 1 am inclined to think 
a number of such slides, at different periods, are what caused the out- 
line of a human face known as "The Old .Man." and J also think that, 
in time, other slides will occur which will entirely obliterate it. In my 
explorations over and upon the rocks which constitute the " Profile," 
I have noticed crevices and cracks in abundance, on which the action of 
frost and ice must eventually have a ruinous result. Of this I shall speak 
more fully hereafter, and shall also have more to say of Eagle Cliff, 
with which I afterwards became intimately acquainted. 



Building a Boat-House. 

A boat-house being required at the Profile Lake. I was selected to 
build it. It was by no means a pleasant job, not on account of the 
work — that was easy enough — but by reason of the spot being just within 
the woods, which close down on the lake and swarm with midgets. 
These pests of the mountains often shorten the visits of tourists ; they 
especially interfere with the labors of the artists, the enjoyment of the 
ramblers, and peace of everybody, everywhere, except in the hotels, their 
immediate vicinity, and some few other favored spots. I commenced 
operations, keeping up a lire to windward, and working in the smoke as 
best I might. From the spot where I worked I had a full view of the 
" Old Man," and, during the month that i was stationed there. I saw 
him in all the various aspects which the changes in the weather give 
him. My attention was divided between my work and the "Old Man" 
a good part of the time, and I often hit my fingers in the attempl to 
drive a nail and look the other way at once. Somehow. 1 could not 
help looking ; the stern old face had a sort of fascination for me, and 
1 almost worshipped it sometimes. Working at the lake. I had charge 
of the boats used by the guests of the hotel. One day 1 saw a stout 
old gentleman and three ladies coming towards the boat-. 

They stopped to enjoy the scenery for S*me time, and then the old gen- 



20 

tleman called for me. I had my eyes on him, expecting to be six. 1 >n 
to, and I pointed to my ears and shook my head. He pointed to the boat, 
with a smile, and then to himself and part}', signifying thai he wanted 
one. I came down and cast one off for him ; he stepped, into it, stood 
erect, while the ladies look seals, and then throwing off his coat and 
gloves, lie sat down, put out the oars, and sent the boat over the sur- 
face of the lake with a long, regular stroke, which showed him to be 
a sailor, and a man-of-war. In the course of an hour he returned, paid 
the customary fee, and went away. [lis bearing convinced me that, he 
was no ordinary man. There were no signs of rank about him, only an 
indefinable something which created that, impression. Tn the evening 
there was a ball, and I saw the old gentleman walking about with 
quite a crowd following, and learned that he was Admiral Farragut. I 
mentally did homage to the naval hero, and studied him with interest, 
during hisstayin the grand parlor where the ball tookplace. The next 
day, while I was at work as usual, the Admiral came along, asked for 
slate and pencil, and engaged me in conversation in regard to the circum- 
stances attending my visit to the u Old Man," while I was constructing 
my l " model" ; a copy of which, hanging in the hotel, had attracted his 
attention on the previous evening. In regard to my exploration on the 
dizzy heights of the "Profile," the Admiral asked me if I was nol 
afraid at the time ; to which, Yankee-like, ] replied by asking him if 
he was not afraid when he stood "m the shrouds of his vessel at the cap- 
ture of New ( Means ': 1 [e incidentally remarked that he was acquainted 
with the veteran Laurent Clerc, who came from France, the first i i- 
Structor of deaf-mutes in America, and others of our notable men. 

At the close of the interview I felt much elated by having had a per- 
sonal conversation, all to myself, with the. hero of New Orleans. There 
was nothing remarkable, b» be sure, in his talking with me as he did ; 
but in my regard to the fact as one of the events of my life, 1 am no 
more absurd, to say the least, than are the multitudes who throng wher- 
ever our great statesmen and generals happen to sojourn, and crowd 
and elbow each other in desperate eagerness to get a sight of the man 
or a shake of his hand. The Admiral impressed me as a dignified, but 
genial old man, with nothing of the aristocrat about him- — a genuine 
son of the sea — fond of society, and carrying with him a certain air, 
which, while conducive to social intercourse, repelled any approach to 
familiarity. I hoped to see him again, but when [ returned from my 
work at night, I 'earned that he was gone. I saw him, some time after- 
ward, in the Railroad Station, at Hartford, Conn., and had the pleasure 
of being recognized, and getting a shake of his hand, just, as he stepped 
on board of a train. He stands high in my estimation of men, and. hero- 
worship or not, I say : Long live Admiral Farragut. 



21 

A W ' a Photographer. 

There came to the Profile House n seedy-looking man, whose baggage 
was two heavy chests, and who. ;is we soon discovered, was a photo- 
grapher, senl by a firm in New York to take views of the places of 
interest in the Mountains, lie was nol a yeiy prepossessing individual; 
woi''.' an army uniform, and had only one eye, black and piercing, bill 
we were soon interested in him. We learned thai he wonl out with 
Dr. Kane's expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, as a photogra] 
but the intense cold prevented him from taking views, and lie was other- 
wise employed. He had been in the army during our civil war, and :i 
splinter destroyed one of his eyes at the battle of Malvern Mill. 

Me had conic to the .Mountains ai the wrong time, July and August 
being the best months for photographing. Me remained over a week 
without seeing a single fair day. and was almost in despair. lie wi 
to engage me to guide and assist him in taking views, at the first oppor- 
tunity, and 1 obtained permission to help him for a weelc. lie wished 
to go to some parts of the Mountains which had never been visited by 
photographers. 

We loaded ourselves with his apparatus and other necessary articles, 
and went here and there for some time with varied success. He at 
Last decided to ascend Eagle Cliff, and try to get views of the Profile 
House and the surrounding scenery. I >ur loads wcighi d over a hundred 
pounds each, and the ascenl was hard indeed, bid we finally reached the 
spol where i had watched the eagle, as rel: We cul down sev- 

eral trees, made a clearing, and built a staging aboul six feel high, 
IV. an which a wide view coidd be had. II *led in taking several 

good pictures. 

The nexl dai we talked it over, and determined to camp out two 
days. Taking our Ion efore. with provisions enough to last 

our return, we proceede " Basin," taking views on the way. 

The •■ Basin " is n deep hollow worn in the solid ■_ 
continued action of the water, which falls into it over :i . 
let t in In I through a small opening at the opj)of 

aoiiesi width is twenty fee . feet. It for 

mammoth howl, which ; - alwa; [1 . I with ven I pure water. 

The water is very clear, and the bott in tly seen. Viewed 

from a certain spot on one side, the other side assumes tin i 
gigantic foot, with the sole outward, and full\ exposed to the action of 
the water. It is a beautiful place, close to the road, and •: ; - pleasanl 
and watch the eddying whirl of waters. 

At I •■ B: in we determined to remain all day and night. After tak- 
ing a few views in differenl positions, in each of which I figured, the 
photographer reim >w [hi is to the 



00 



adjusted, when he hit one leg of the stand with his fool and sent the 
whole into the Basin. En trying to save it, he slipped, and fell in him- 
self. 1 was standing near him, and, knowing that he could not swim, 1 
made such haste to catch him that I, too, went headlong into the water. 
The water was icy cold, it being near November. Being a good swim- 
mer, I soon placed my companion where he could hold on for a few min- 
utes, and having got out myself. I helped him to do the same. We were 
in a had way, certainly; both of us wet to the skin, and the apparatus 
fifteen feet under water. The pour fellow actually wept, believing he 
had lost it forever; but I told him I would get it again, even if I had 
to dive for it. Procuring a long pole, we made a very good grappling 
with some nails we had with us, and let it down, but found it too short. 
Splicing it with cords, we again lot it down, and. as I was feeling about 
for the object of our search, I lost my balance and fell into the Basin a 
second time. I had, at previous times, like many others, stood on the 
brink of the Basin, and longed for a plunge in the " delicious-looking 
bath" ; but I Changed my mind entirely alter this second experience, 
and at all subsequent visits to the spot, 1 " looked hut longed no more." 
Undaunted, I climbed out, and we renewed our attempts to recover the 
apparatus, which we finally succeeded in doing. 

Oh ! how we capered and laughed, forgetting that we were thoroughly 
wet, two miles from any house, and without the means to make a fire. 
By the time that we began to realize our situation, and consider what we 
should do, a team happened along and we procured some matches of the 
drivei', and determined to stay all night, as we had at first intended. 
We built a large fire, and so far dried our clothes that we felt comfort- 
able, and then worked on till near sundown, when we looked about 
for a place to spend the night. I remembered having seen a small shanty, 
somewhere in the vicinity, a year before, and went to look for it. After 
a diligent search. I found it about half a mile away, and returned to 
guide my comrade to it, marking the trees as I went, to insure a speedy 
return. It was the best place we could find ; and we proceeded to make' 
ourselves comfortable, although the fact that there was an old bear-trap 
near by, brought up rather unpleasant associations; the idea of one; of 
those animals coming along, not being agreeable. 

We ate our supper cold, and made our bed with moss and blankets. 
We were afraid to build a lire in that place, for fear of a conflagration in 
the woods, a thing which had happened before from the same cause. The 
gloom of the forest, and the rapidly-increasing darkness, were indeed 
thrilling. The darkness put it out of our power to converse, which was 
rather uncomfortable. All was utter silence to me; my companion 
doing the hearing lor both of us, while, I suppose, I did my share of 
the thinking. Neither of us slept much that night, the strangeness 
of my position and my own thoughts keeping me awake ; while the 



9 ■ 



rustling of swaying branches, the v ailing waters, and the hoot- 

of owls, made ii impossible for him to sleep. He told me afterward, 
thai the owls seared him badly ; and I confessed thai 1113' imagination 
conjured up so many bears, snakes, and other denizens of the forest, 
thai I was heartily glad when morning came. At da3 - -break 1113' com- 
panion fell asleep, and remained so, until a large owl, of which 1 had a 
good view, awakened him by its hooting, when 1 told him to keep watch, 
and was soon asleep, careless whether he obe\'ed orders or not. 

Refreshed by our naps, we ate our breakfasts and returned to the 
Basin, from which we went to the Pool, but were unable to take any 
views, on account of cloudj' weather. We took lodgings at the Flume 
House, and the next day, after obtaining views of the Flume, we com- 
menced our return. 

Arriving at the foot of Mount. Lafayette, we halted, and held a con- 
sultation as to the possible advantage of ascending it. and the prob- 
ability of beingable to obtain views from its summit. It was late in the 
season, and the ascent was dangerous, on account of the frost-clouds, 
Caughl in one of which is almost certain death. 

I had ventured up, a few days before, at a time when there was a 
dense frost-cloud, and all the trees above were Covered with a white and 
glistening coat of frost. I wanted to feel how cold it was. and to ascer- 
tain how far I could endure it. (The reader will observe, that to go up 
when a frost-cloud is abroad, and approach it from below, is a very dif- 
ferent thing from having one sweep down upon, and envelope, the un- 
fortunate person who happen- to be in thewa\. In the former case, 
one can retreat at pleasure; in the latter, one seldom escapes with life.) 
I carried with me overcoat and mittens, which I did not need to put on 
lor some time, it being a warm day. As I approached the border of 
the frost -cloud, I put them on, and ventured some distance up. I felt it, 
sure enough. It was a stinging, suffocating cold ; the air was filled with 
minute particles of frozen mist, and my hair and beard were quickly 
white; while 1113- clothes, before I left, were frozen still'. When 1 could 
bear the cold no longer. I beat a retreat. 

1 noticed a very singular thing during my stay : The wind was blow- 
ing quite hard, and the particles of mist or frost, clinging to the trees 
and to each other, made icicles, which did not hang down as we generally 
see them, but stood out horizontally from trees, rocks, stumps, etc.. giv- 
ing the whole a very striking appearance. 

As I descended to warmer regions, the heat gradually thawed out my 
frozen clothes; and when I arrived at the foot of the mountain. I was 
as wet as if I had been plunged under water. It will now be seen how 
dangerous it was for us to venture up. If we reached the top, and a 
frost-cloud should be seen coining, we could not possibly reach a "place 
of safety with our loads. We finally decided to make the attempt. 



24 

Th^ photographer and myself slowly ascended with our heavy loads, 
keeping a sharp look-out, after leaving the line of the forest, for any ap- 
pearance of danger. As we neared the top of the Mountain we saw a 
spot of cloud afar off, which 1 knew was a sign of the approach of the 
frost-demon, and we turned and rapidly made our way back, narrowly 
escaping the deadly embraces of the cloud, so speedidly did it sweep after 
us. Of course, all our labor was lost; taking views was impossible. 
AVc gave up the attempt, and returned to the Profile Mouse. The next 
dav we made an equally fruitless ascent of Cannon Mountain; after 
which, the prosped o bad thai my photographing friend gave up 

the job, packed his things, bade farewell to the Mountains, and returned 
to New York. 

.! Deaf and Dur, ■> hikh better than None. 

Soon after the departure of my friend the one-eyed photograph man, 
a gentleman made his appearance at the Profile House, who hailed from 
New Jersey. He came very late, as the season had closed to all intents 
and purposes, and only a few stragglers remained of the swarm of visitors, 
lie inquired for a Guide, and was told that the regular Guides had all 
o-one home, but that f would make agoodone,as I was well acquainted 
with the Mountains, and had served in that capacity before. On learn- 
ing that 1 was deaf and dumb, he flatly refused to take me, adding some 
very uncomplimentary remarks, which were reported to me, of which I 
took no apparent notice, although 1 made a memorandum of them in my 
mind. One day he ventured out alone, in search of AValker's Falls, of 
which I shall have more to sa> h reafter. it was in the afternoon, and 
the hill-tops were cmvi loped in clouds. The distance to the Falls, from 
the road leading to the Flume House, is one mile and a-half. Neglect 
and mountain storms had nearly obliterated thai hall' of the path nearesl 
the Falls, making it easy to lose one's way. Al sundown, the gentle- 
man had not returned, and an alarm was raised. I was requested to go 
in search of him,! id isented, glad of the chance to show him 

thai nation ol :: Deaf md Dumb was wrong ; and I started 

road, I soon Found his trail in the sofl moss. 
etainin 0, the impression of a person's fool for a long time, and pur- 
l] possible haste, as Lnsfc ras coming on and time was 

prec'n »us. 

!i , , : me to keep directly on the trail, and I, being deaf, 

migl I lite near him wi1 1 Iiiin, and he t see or 

hear me. I found. he direction of his trail, thai he had gone wrong, 
and could not possibly have reached the Falls. I found him perched on a 
rock, wiping his brow vigorously. He had given himself up for lost, and 
his cond aw me, somewhal 3 prc"\ Ion issed 



25 

opini i) of a deaf-mute guide. He caught my hand and shook il warmly. 
We luul no time to waste in words, and if we had, il was too dark to 
write, by which method only could we communicate. 

ming him to follow, I took the back track, and wenl forward at a 
i rate, up hill and down, over rocks and stumps, through bushes 
and briars, intenl on gainii nam road b fore utter darkness came 

on. lie came after me, panting and perspirin: , utly stumbling 

over some obstacles, and falling headlong ; and,plainh ■ ig to such 

o to ion, ] confess to xperieneed a <ov\ of malicious 

pleasure in leading him such a race, in consi lerati >n of his remarks on 
me the other day. "After a while 1 became slightly anxious, as the 
darkness increased, lest we should miss the way ; but while turnin; 
over i: my mind, we burst through a clump of bushes, directh into the 
road, and I shortly had the pleasure of seeing him i arms of 

his anxious wife. 

For the rest of his >ta i< mployed me as his guide, paying me 
liberally ; besides stating, at the close of my engagement, that, although 
he had travelled much, both in the old world and the new. he had never 
had a better guide. 

My Asa i.t of M 

The most rem irl ighl I had 'ver witne — d, occurred one after- 

noon this season. Th e gathering, and slowly descending, 

and there was every appearance of a rain-storm, when I determine 

me up the Mountain, to see "whether il w; i top. 1 hur- 

-i as I could, and having made the a-c r,\. pa 
■' !: I ■ way, I was rewarded by a singular sight. Be 

me, ■• . wa -. :•■• , a i hick field of 

. almost tempi in its si n't f' >ld -. ! learned, a 

ward, that lepartui 

id ■ '• here thought I'u ! dighl for \ en- 

ng on the i impi ' ; ipre- 

ciate my love i f ad> on >ensat ion 

of Vicing aboA iften read of persons standii 

the top of a moui n storm ra ■ w them, and 

w felt nu' l v. itnessing a simil 

Very soi m the cotton-cli bi i : i d c 'lor, as if oi 

caugl ! 

became sublin ntl ■ ibe. [ was remind 

[sraelites fl fire by nigh , 

many miles around, this magnifi eye. Soon,howe 

I not iced thai aid 5, m Inch made me feel quite un< 

■'■ ar I hat ( Siould gel a thorough s< iaking, \> 



26 

quite uncomfortable, and perhaps place me in a dangerous plight from 
the cold and wet, and there was no chance for escape; so I had to con- 
tent myself by waiting its approach. I saw no lightning, nor did 1 feel 
any jar from the thunder, in which 1 was somewhat disappointed. As 

•lie cloud arose. 1 was agreeably surprised to find that it did not rain at 
all, but there was a thick nlist or cloud rising fast, and in a few minutes 
it had passed above my head, slowly uniting, until it. appeared like a 
great white cloth or sheet spread over many miles around. The whole 
.Mountain range came into full view, in all its grandeur and majesty. 

I was riveted to the spot in amazement at this unexpected scene, and 
1 can hardly find words to portray the beautiful spectacle. The rising 
of a mammoth curtain in a mammoth theatre, might give some idea of 
what I beheld coming into view: a grand panorama of splendid and 
varied landscape. Mount Washington, thirty miles away, revealed itself 
in mighty grandeur, with all its surroundings of minor hills. But the 
descending sun warned me not to tarry, but to hasten down while yet 
there was daylight enough to guide my steps. I found most of the path 
very wet and muddy, but reached the hotel without harm. 

A Party Overivhelmed by a Severe Rain-Storm. 

To show the danger there is in incautiously attempting an ascent of 
the Mountains, 1 will narrate an incident that occurred in the earlvpart 
of this season. 

A party of five gentlemen and five ladies determined to risk the 
ascent of Mount Lafayette quite early, being, I think, the first party of 
the season, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the hotel-keeper. The 
weather appeared quite unpromising, but, having a guide, they ventured 
off, and reached the top of the Mountain without particular adventure. 
They had hardly dismounted, and taken a view of the scene before them, 
when they were surrounded by a dense cloud, which totally obscured their 
vision. Quickly mounting their horses, they had gone but, a i'vw rods 
when a heavy rain-storm burst upon them, forming a torrent, which filled 
the path so that they could not find their way. 

The horses refused to move, being frightened and bewildered, and 
even a hard beating had no effect upon them. The whole party was in a 
very dangerous plight, for they were pitiable-looking objects, completely 
drenched ; and the ladies looked most miserable, helpless, and trembling 
with fear and the cold. They were held on to the horses by the gentlemen 
accompanying them, or they would have fallen exhausted to the ground. 
The rain poured in ceaseless torrents, as if from sheer malice, to punish 
the imprudent adventurers. 

There was great consternation at the hotel when the storm came on, 
as it seemed unlikely that any of the party could survive its chilling 



27 

effects. A quick consultation was had, and volunteers called for to go • 
to the rescue. I quickly offered my services; and six others following 
my example, we hastily procured a two-horse carriage, and drove with 
great speed the three miles to the fool of the Mountain. Here we un- 
harnessed the horses from the carriage, tj'ing them, so they should not 
-tray, and proceeded on fool up the Mountain, which we did with ureal 
difficulty, discomfort, and danger, the path being filled with water, ami 
the pelting rain nearly blinding us. Finally, we reached the spot where 
the party stood, more dead than alive, and truly pitiable objects to be- 
hold. We did not stop to ask .■11)3- questions, but quickly got the ladies 
oil' the horses, gave them :i drink of something which the Strictest teeto- 
taller won hi probabl}' not have denied them under the circumstances, and 
then each took one of the ladies and started down the Mountain again, 
the gentlemen gladly following with all possible speed. The horses 
were also induced to move, and when we got hall' way down, and hail 
partially revived the almost perishing party, we again mounted them on 
their horses, putting a, man on each side to hold 1 hem in place. By dint 
of great caution, we finally reached the carriage, into which we placed 
the ladies, letting their horses gallop off towards home. Again harness- 
ing our horses to the carriage, we started off with all speed to the hotel, 
where we arrived without further mishap. The travelling party received 
prompt, aid and by careful nursing, and the use of proper stimulant-., 
they were fortunately able to he about the next morning, apparently 
none the worse for their dangerous predicament. 

The A<l ri ni a n.us Little Girl. 

One Sunday after] n, a, little waiter-girl, not, more than eleven years 

old, banteringly -aid that she would ascend Mount Lafayette alone, if 
no one would accompany her. Some of the older hoys, who were fond 
of mischief, wishing to see some fun, and to test her strength, offered to 
go with her. promising help, if necessary, in the ascent and descent. 

So off they started to the foot of the Mountain, without the knowl- 
edge of any older persons. The ascent was very difficult for one so 
young; she started up very courageously, but her strength not being 
equal to the task, she soon faltered ; but the boys cruelly drove her up, 
by threats. She often wavered, but finally was enabled to nearly reach 
the top, a distance of about three miles from the foot of the Mountain. 
Here her tired limbs refused any longer to sustain her, ami she tell, ex- 
hausted, to the ground. 

The boys became quite alarmed at this result of their persuasion and 
threats, and, finding that the sun was getting well down, they became 
frightened, for fear that they should all perish with the cold at night. 
(hie of the oldest, more courageous than the rest, offered to stay with 



28 

the little girl while the rest should hasten back for help. Arriving at the 
hotel, they quickly gave the alarm, and men were despatched for the 
little adventurer. She was brought down the .Mountain more dead than 
alive, having fearful spasms, and reached the hotel utterly exhausted. 
A messenger was sent five miles for a doctor, by whose care she was 
revived, but without any particular desire to try such a jaunt again. It 
is, perhaps, needless to say, that th ' bo3"s were more careful afterward, 
heartily thankful that no iil effects followed their fool-hardiness. 

Taking the Measure of the Old Man of the Mountain. 

One day. while looking at the stucco-workers at the hotel, the idea 
struck me that a facsimile of the "Old Man of the Mountain" might 
be made of Calcined Plaster. This toas an idea Avhich promised large 
rewards if it could be accomplished. But how to get an exact coun- 
terfeit presentment of His High Mightiness, that was the question. 
Cheered with the hope of success, I soon had my wits at work determin- 
ing how to get at the measurements of the various rocks which combine 
to make up this wonderful profile. 1 was satisfied that it would take 
many weary hours of toil and danger to accomplish the task I had laid 
out for mj'self, but I was determined to succeed, and J did. 

Preparing a clothes-line forty feet long, and a piece of white cotton 
cloth about four feet square, to the top and bottom of which I fastened 
heavy piecesof wood, so that their weight should keep the cloth smooth 
i spread out and suspended. One morning, without informing any 
one of my intention, ! started quite early, taking along the line and 
cloth, not forgetting a lunch, and my little hatchet, and ma le the ascent 
direeil v from the Bowling Alle}', straight to the Face, instead of by the 
ordinary path. The ascent was , icult and dangerous, and I was 

very much fatigued, but finally succeeded in gaining the top. 

After careful examination below, i reached the top of the head, and 
having attach - b I i thelin ■. I lowered it over the face, and fast- 

ock. I could not see where il landed ; 
after partaking of im lunch, ! started backdown e - in. being 

;ed to go to a point eighty rods beyond the hotel, in order to see 
where the cloth had rested. I ('.Mind thai it had lauded on the nose, 
and. as thai was one-half - it of the whole profile, i knew that 

the entire height mu'sl be eighty feet, or twice the length of my forty-foot 
line. 

Iiile i was still looking up at the face, some one gave the alarm at 
the hotel, that some vandal had painted a white spot on the Old Man's 
nose, and quite spoiled his beauty. The hotel keeper sent his clerk to 
ascertain w hat had been done, and to stop further depredations. Finding 
me : >tentl\ watching the head, he presumed al once thai ! was the mis- 



Of 

1.1 

chief-maker; he shook his fist at me, and then asked me, in writing, 
why I painted thai spot on the nose? I laughed outvighl ; and soon 
mollified him by telling him that it was impossible for any live man to 
gel upon the nose. I then explained nr\ object, and the means of ob 
taining the corred distances for the proposed far-simile. lie then re- 
turned to tin' hotel, and reported to the proprietor, who afterward 
desired me to be quick, and remove the unsightly - 

So, early the nexl morning, I again ascended the Mountain, this 
time in a dense cloud ; and having removed the cloth, returned to the 
hotel in season f< >r br< akfast. 

The visit to i\\-j. head was repeated in a few days, and I then even 
ventured, more than once, under the chi a, which proved extremely haz- 
ardous; and, bul for my determination to get an accurate measurement, 
would have been quickly abandoned, as too risky l'>v mortal man to un- 
dertake. I was told that no man had ever been known to go there be- 
fore; but, whether true or not, J do not intend ever to risk my wife's 
husband's neclv on any such desperate errand again ; all the money in Wad 
Street would now be no allurement. 1 accomplished my task, and suc- 
ceeded in getting, by various methods, the exact size and form of the 
various features which combine to form this mosl wonderful profile. 

When I reported this last, purl of the adventure, no one was willing to 
believe 'that 1 had een under the chin. Finding them so faith- 

less, I offered to go once more, and prove my presence by building a 
fire under the chin, the smoke of which would be visible from the road. 
This 1 did : and then returning, without serious suffering, I was welcomed 
with amazement . 

The spot I reached was directly under the chin, about twenty feel 
below it. If it had been possible to take alone.- a short ladder, ! could 
have gained foothold on a small projection, and touched the chin, which 
was about fifteen feet from the top to the neck, but it would have been 
extremely hazardous; for, if 1 had tripped ever so little, and lost my 
balance, I should have gone down the cliff some two thousand feet, and 
been dashed to pieces on the ragged rocks below. In ease of such a 
termination, it is not likely that these sketches would ever have seen the 
light; and, after considering the matter of late, I am rather glad that 
I was preserved from falling. 

I was very successful in making the desired model, and produced a 
truthful representation of the "Great Stone Face."' for which I received 
the highest praise, and of which I made and sold a large number of 
copies. 

The successful accomplishment of this undertaking rendered me quite 
famous in the Mountain region and there; are many who visited the 
Mountains that year, who greatly assisted me in disposing of copies of 
the model. Among these was one of the editors of the New York 



30 

Journal nerce, who gave me a " first-rate n tice' : in his gigantic 

newspaper, from which I extracl the following: 

"Mr. Wm. I). Swett, an ingenious deaf-mute, who lias been employed 
for several summers at the Profile House, in the Franconia Mountains, 
and who is noted for his many adventures among them, produced, dur- 
ing ih<' summer of 1866, a remarkable work. — & facsimile of the Great 
Stone Face. 

■• It was made from actual measurement ; taken at great risk of life and 
limb, he having been on the brow five times, and is said to be the first, 
and perhaps tiie only man, who ever ventured under the Chin, to get a 
correct view of the rocks which constitute the face. 

"The fact is not generally known, that the ' Profile' is produced, not 
by the edge of one rock, but by the accidental grouping of a number of 
rocks, at various distances from each other. 

" The front of the top of the precipice, which is about sixteen hundred 
feet high, is a group of rocks one hundred feet in breadth, and eighty 
feet high. The Nose is forty feet from the Forehead. The Mouth, 
which seems an opening of two thin lips, is a side-long chasm, or break, 
of fifty feet in extent. 

"Viewed from the front, the Profile disappears, andean, indeed, only 
be seen from one point." 

The Panther and Indian on Eagle Cliff. 

Always on the look-out for opportunities to make a sensation, and add 
to the attraction of the localities, both for my own profit and that of 
the proprietors, I conceived the idea of placing a wooden panther high 
up on Eagle Cliff, facing the hotel. 

After frequent visits to the Cliff, for the purpose of selecting a good 
place, and of calculating the distance. I went to work on my model. 
Aware that " distance lends enchantment to views," I drew the outlines 
roughVy, and made it eighteen feet long, and large in proportion. It 
representee! the animal in a crouching attitude, read}' for a spring. I 
made it in nine pieces, usine; pine plank, one inch thick, for the purpose. 
Having matched and painted, or daubed these pieces to my satisfaction, 
I made nine secret visits to the selected spot, to which 1 had previously 
•• Mazed" a path, carrvinu' one piece each time. I secreted the pieces 
in the bushes, and waited for the proper time. When the hotel was well 
filled with guests, myself and a. boy went up one morning at three 
<»'clock. and put the model together, nailing it firmly to trees, and brac- 
ing it well. The location was the brink of a precipice ; and, during 
erection. I had to crawl around on its wry edge, where there was so 
little foot-hold that I had a rope around my waist, the other end of 
which was lashed to a tree. After the model was up, it looked so rough 



31 

and uncouth thai [ began to have misgivings as to the effeel from the 
hotel : and having given it a few more daubs of paint. I hurried back, 
anxious to gel the firsl view of it from the place. It was nol yet six 
o'clock, and no one liad yet appeared. Having assured myself that tin 
model was rightly placed, looked quite natural, and could nol fail to be 
noticed, I retired, to watch the effect, feeling highly gratified with my 
success. Some early risers soon appeared on the piazza, stretching 
themselves, rubbing their eyes, and expanding their lungs with copious 
inhalations of the keen. pure, and bracing Mountain air. [laving cleared 
the night-mists from eye and brain, they proceeded to enjoy the prospect. 
One of them, looking in the direction of the Cliff, suddenly started, 
rubbed his eyes, and Looked again, to be sure he was nol deceived, and 
called the attention of the next to the model. Instantly, all was <" 
ment ; the more casual spectators apparently taking it for a reality, and 
the cry of " a panther! a panther !! " which rang through the house. 
soon brought all who were about to the piazza and front yard ; while 
those yet in their rooms threw up their windows, and looked eagerly 
forth; telescopes and opera-glasses were brought into requisition, and 
soon settled the nature of the object, after which, the guests began to 
speculate as to the author of this exploit. The editor of the New York 
Jon nuil of Commerce, who had some previous knowledge of me, de- 
cided that it must be my doing. He hunted me up, and asked me about 
it. 1 told him the whole story ; whereupon lie took me with him, and 
introduced me to the crowd, who listened with interesl to his repeti- 
tion of my story, voted the deed a success, and made up a handsome 
purse, which was presented to me as a token of their appreciation. 

The next spring I returned, and found the panther still in it-- place 1 . 
A visit to the spot proved it to be uninjured by the storms of the past 
winter, and I determined to put up the figure of an Indian with a gun, 
in the act of shooting the panther. 1 mad'/' the figure and the ^u\\ of 
the same material I had used in constructing the panther — inch-pine 
lumber. 

The Indian was twenty feel high, and his gun was sixteen feet long, 
the barrel being eight inches wide. When I got the thing ready. I was 
very weak, from the effects <>\' a had cold, and was unable to conduct my 
opt rations as secretly as before. I. however, communicated m\ pr 
to as few persons as possible, and got a gang o\' ton men to carry the 
pieces and the necessary implements, while I went with them to guide them 
to the -pot. and to superintend operations. The cbiy was hot, and the 
ascent rough, so that 1 was soon exhausted, and had to he helped on the 
wa\ . Lone- before we arrived at our destination, I was almost dead for want 
of a drink of water. We had brought none with us, hut discovered 
a place where' water was oozing from the face of the rock. [1 did not 
come fast enough to give me a drink, and it was thinly spread over SO 



32 

much surface that I could only moisten my parched lip and tongue. 
Taking a bag, which I had with me, I half filled it with the soft moss of 
the foresl ; and. by pressing the bag against the face of the rock, ab- 
sorbed all the water thai came. When the bag, by its increased weight, 
appeared to contain a suffieienl quantit}", I applied my mouth to a corner, 
compressed the bag with my hands, and obtained a copious and delicious 
draught. Having satisfied my thirst, I again applied the bag to the 
rock, filled it as full as possible, and resinned the ascent. The bag fur- 
nished several refreshing draughts of water before we reached the desired 
place. If was necessary to locate the Indian at a considerable distance 
from the panther, in order to secure the proper effect ; and, as we could 
nol see the latter, it required several trios to and fro, and some nice 
calculations; but we finally got it right, as observation from the hotel 
afterwards proved. Having nailed it to the trees, and braced it firmly, 
we returned to the Profile House, where the guests showed their appre- 
ciation of the enterprise by a second liberal collection. At latest accounts 
during the summer of 1869, the panther and Indian still remained. 

.1 Perilous Adventure. 

One Saturday noon, after dinner, the other workmen and myself wen- 
outside of the hotel, chatting and smoking, before resuming work, when 
one of them 'i me, in a bantering wa} T , if I could ascend Eagle Cliff 

directly from the hotel, instead of taking the usual roundabout way 
After some hesitation. I said I could do it, and would go if I could gel 
permission to leave work, and that I would fling out a white flag at the 
top. All the lumber which we used had to be brought over the Moun- 
tains on teams, and it was slow and tedious work. This was before the 
idea occurred to the proprietors to build a steam saw-mill, which was 
afterwards done, and from which an ample supply was furnished. As 
we happened to be out of lumber at the time, I readily obtained leave 
Of absence. 

Procuring a table-cloth and some stout twine, and taking neither coat, 
axe, or lunch, as usual — so confident was 1 that I should need none of 
them — I plunged into the woods, about two o'clock, P. M., and com- 
menced the ascent. The day was warm; the work uncomfortable ; and 
the midgets, or wood-flies, more troublesome than ever. I had to keep 
my hands constantly in motion about my face to keep them off; their bite 
being always annoying, and often poisonous. The ascent became more 
and more difficult, and I made up my mind that it was a mad work to get 
to the top ; but, to think of returning, was not pleasant, as the boys would 
laugh at me. I might take the usual way, and no one be the wiser; but 
that would be a cheat, and sol kept on. I had often to scramble up on my 
hands and knees, and to pull myself up b}' roots and bushes, and be 



very cautious about it, as they hart no firm held in the ground, and were 
easily pulled up. A bush suddenly gave way in one place, and, had uot 
a large tree prevented it. I should have had a serious fall upon the 
jagged rock? twenty feel below, it was now impossible to descend, for 
1 was on a ledge from which no downward path was visible. Working 
my way up. with immense labor, I al last discovered a huge crack or 
fissure, some thirty l'cci long, two feel wid oi high, with 

several trees growing in it. and I squeezed' nvyself up and through it. At 
its end I was glad to see that i was near the top, which i [iiickly 
gained. While resting from the fatigue induced by my exertions, i was 
troubled with unpleasant doub u1 a safe return; but 1 di mi ?ed 

them for the present, and, climbing the tallest tree ! could find, 1 ob- 
tained a truly sublime" view. The \ . ] gently to and fro in the 
wind with a soothing elfecl ; to lifted itself far toward 
and far below me was the Profile House, 10 lai ; than a bird- 
house, such as are often sel up by boys. I longed to hav i .' m\ 
friends presenl to share my delight. I tied the tabie-eloth out on the 
branches, and immediately t lie guests and workmen began I egate 
in front of tin-- hotel, and to wave their handkerchiefs, to show (hat they 
saw that I had really reached the top, although they probably had not 
expected to see me make my appearance in the top of a tr< 
ing from the ti an hour of true enjoyment, I was soon convinced 
thai it was imposs the way I had come, and thai mv 
only course was to make the best of my way to the columnar crae. and 
search for a path down its side. The distance was only half a mile, 
but the undergrowth was so thick, and fallen tree- so numerous, that my 
progress was very slow. I now repented not having brought my hand- 
axe, with which to cut my way through. The pitiless midgets followed 
me in clouds; 1 never smoke, or 1 could easily have kept them off. 
I have tried mosquito- around my head and face, but found it to 

answer nog 1 purpose, as, besides being easily torn, it interfered with 

the frequent necessity of wiping away the perspiration, and was other- 
wise uncomfortable. 

From the brink of the crag, to which I finally attained. I had another 
glorious view of the hills'; a small part of the chin of the "Old Man" 
could he seen. Km nothing of the nose, mouth, or forehead. I built a 
small fire in a hole in the rock, both to drive oil" the midgets and 
attract the attention of those below. The crowd soon saw the smoke, 
and the waving of handkerchiefs vva; repeated. 

Iliad stepped on a piece of. rock to have a better view, and, as I 
turned to get down. J felt it move; with a sudden spring, I grasped a 
bush, and fell Hat upon my la-east, while the stone rolled over, and went 
thundering down the precipice. I wished to get down the cliff, it is true. 
but not in that hasty fashion, as 1 came near doing. Putting out the 



fire, a precaution the importance of which I would impress upon all 
who build fires in the woods, the neglect of it having caused many ex- 
tensive conflagrations, I resumed my search for a way down. During 
this time, a pair of large owls flew up from -the depths below, fluttered 
blindly about for a moment or two, and then dine down again. I am not 
superstitious, otherwise the appearance of these birds, considered of 
evil omen, at such a time and place, might have depressed my already 
heavy spirits. After a long search, I found J was in a tight place, and 
saw no other way out of it than to go down the opposite side of the 
cliff, and ascend Mount Lafayette. 

Viewed from a distance, the deep, black ravine that scars the Moun- 
tain-side seemed easy of ascent ; a complete deception, as will be seen. 
Once at the top of the ravine. I could easily gain the well-known bridle- 
path, and from that point the way was clear. I should also have another 
extensive view, and it was rare for one to get three different views, from 
points so far apart, on the same day. I was admonished to make haste, 
as the sun, considering the distance I had yet to go and the probable 
and possible difficulties of the way, was unpleasantly near setting. 

I ran, jumped and slid as far as the bottom of the valley, where I 
stopped to quench my thirst in a clear, sparkling brook which ran there, 
built a fire to keep the midgets away, and sat down to rest a little, con- 
templating, meanwhile, the yawning blackness of the ravine, which was 
now directly in front of me, and looked gloomy enough, but its very 
gloom was sublime. 

As soon as I got well rested, I commenced the ascent in earnest. I 
was frequently obliged to cross and re-cross the rushing brook ; the sides 
were very steep, and trees and bushes were scattered here and there, but 
the ravine was mostly lined, as far. as one could see, with large and small 
stones, from which the rains had washed away the earth, until many of 
them stood ready to roll down at a touch, or even at a heavy jar. The 
sun shone straight into the chasm, and the lofty sides kept the wind 
away ; the heal was almost suffocating, an'd before long most of my 
clothing was saturated with perspiration. The ascent, comparatively 
easy at first, became more difficult ever}' moment, and the heat more op- 
pressive ; to think of slopping was out of the question, as eight miles 
still lay between myself ami the Profile House. Detention, by darkness, 
would very likely lie death. I could not shorten the distance by climb- 
ing the side, for the underbrush was impenetrable without, an axe. So 1 
pushed along, painfull}' ; I was much fatigued and excited ; my feet were 
sore; the soles of my' shoes, new the day before, being worn through. 
I began to fear I could not extricate' myself from the ravine, and I 
prayed for deliverance as 1 had never prayed before; thoughts of my 
family, and of my past life, flashed through my mind. 

It is remarkable how rapidly and clearly a man can think when in 



35 

danger; in what a short space of time every act of his life, good or had, 
passes in review before him. 

About this time, I stepped on a louse rock, which slid from under my 
feet, and rolled heavily downward, starting numerous other rocks in its 
course, and raising an immense cloud of dust. I soon discovered a new 
source of danger; the jar, and the reverberations of the rolling stones 
below me, had started those above, and they now rolled past in consid- 
erable numbers, some of them passing quite near me. The rock on 
which I now stood — to which i had sprung when the other gave way — ■ 
was quite slippery, and 1 could not move out of the way should any of 
the stones come in my direction, lest I lose my footing ami fellow them 
to the bottom. 

The ravine above and ahead of me was steep, and quite smooth. 
Looking up, to see how long the commotion was likely to last. I saw a 
huge rock far up the slope, coming directly down upon me at a fearful 
speed. I also noticed that a large rock cropped out ten or twelve feet 
above my head, and that the coming stone would hit it, and, in all prob- 
ability, fetch both upon me, and hurl me to destruction. Mentally bid- 
ding farewell to the world, and commending my spirit to God, I kept my 
eyes fixed on the rock. It struck the projection — which proved to be 
a solid spur in the Mountain-side, and consequently did not move — 
bounded over my head, and went spinning to the bottom, where it Uo\t 
into a thousand piece-. 

A few more stones passed me, and then all became quiel again. I can- 
not describe my feelings at this deliverance ; but I imagine! know how 
a man feels who has been reprieved at the foot of the gallows. 

1 now took courage, and resumed the ascent, picking my way up care- 
fully. Farther on, I came to a broad. Hat rock, steep, wet and slippery. 
Being unable to go around it on either side, I went down on hands and 
knees and crawled up its surface. Reaching what I thought a safe place, 
I attempted to stand upright. My feet slipped, and I fell on my face, 
bruising myself considerably. I slid on and down till my eye caught a 
little crack in the rock, into which 1 got the ends of my lingers, and thus 
stopped the descent, though it seemed only a postponement of the 
inevitable end ; for of course I could not hold on forever. I could 
nut move; the clouds of midgets which had followed me all along, now 
seemed to know that their opportunity had come, and settled in a mass 
on my neck, face and hands. The torment was terrible, but I was help- 
less. 

Over the surface of the rock on which 1 was spread out, the water 
trickled from a spring above, and I was soon quite wet. If I was 
obliged to stay out all night, my only safely was in having a good fire. 
Since leaving the last place where I had made a lire, I had discovered 
that I laid my matches on the ground, while lighting it. and left them 



36 

there; and that L had but one solitary match, which was in my vest 
pocket. My greatest fear now was. that this one match would get wet, 
and I be thus reduced to extremity. 

Looking carefully around. 1 saw a crevice, not far from my feet, into 
which, if I could gel my feet, I could resume my progress on hands and 
knees. The length of my legs, inconvenient at times, now did me good 
service, as they could just reach it. Cautiously letting gomy hold with 
one hand, and finding it was safe. 1 indulged in a savage sweep at the 
midgets on my face, giving me a slight relief. A little exertion enabled 
me to get on I of my dangerous situation, crawl away, continue my up- 
ward progress, and reach the strange-looking rock near the top of the 
Mountain, known as the "Altar," where I dropped on the moss, utterly 
exhausted, but xovy thankful that the worst was over. 

A little dirty water helped to revive me. The sun was near setting — 
it had set long ago to those in the valleys below — and the air, clearer 
than at any of my previous visits, afforded me a most magnificent view, 
the beauty of which chained me to my seat, till the light began to fade 
away. My one match proved to have fortunately remained unwet, and 
the dcscenl of the Mountain, by the bridle-path, now began. 

The sharp stones hurt my feet, and my progress was not rapid ; when 
the woods below the cone of the Mountain were reached, the darkness 
: further progress dangerous without a light; the idea of a night 
in the woods was rejected ; a pile of white birch-bark was collected, and a 
torch made; the one match, upon the ignition of which so much* de- 
pended, was drawn, with a prayer for success; the torch blazed forth, 
and hy its light the foot of the Mountain was reached at last, '['hen 
followed a long rest on the grass at the side of the road, rendered 
doubly sweet hy a knowledge that the danger was passed, and only two 
miles of smooth travel now intervened. 

The hotel was finally reached, and it is doubted if a more famished 
tatterdemalion was ever seen within its walls than entered them about 
ten o'clock that night, and sank helplessly on a chair. 

Mv entrance cut short the speculations, and allayed the anxieties, of 
all concerned. Every attention was rendered; a bountiful supper was 
furnished, and, after doing il ample justice, I was glad to crawl off to 
bed. The next da}', a full account of the adventure, on my part, and a 
liberal collect ion on that of the guests, ended the matter for the present. 
I was so lame that I had to sit down all day, and was unable to work. 



THIRD SUMMER. 

Tee Blockade on the Ammonoosuc. 

EARLY in the spring, I was again (.•ailed to return to the Profile 
I louse. Bitter experience, in former seasons, had taught me thai 
I mighl expect snow-storms and wintry weather, and so I took the pre- 
caution to be provided for such contingencies. A thick riding-blankel 

and warm mittens are excellent companions on such a journey. 

Arriving at PranconLi I)}' stage, from Littleton. I was not a little 
amazed to find solid cakes ^\' ice, large and small,, scattered all over the 
town, in the fields, gardens, and orchards, not omitting the open doors 
of barns and sheds. Some of the front doors of the dwellings were 
completely blocked up, and the whole appearance of things generally 
was most singular, it appeared as if the spirits of the Mountains had 
been having a grand melee, the weapons being cakes of ice. 1 am not 
sure which side beat. Upon inquiring into the cause of this strange 
appearance, \ learned that a sudden freshet had taken place on the Ammo- 
noosuc River, caused by the snow inciting along the ravine of Mount 
Lafayette, and the water had rushed down, breaking the ice in the river 
into fragments, which were carried all over the town when an ice-jam 
occurred, which kept the water back, and submerged the town some three 
feet. This accounted for the ice in such unusual places. The road had 
been cleared out to make travelling possible. 

While we were preparing to go forward, we were suddenly overtaken 
by a violent snow-storm, which came almost unheralded. We vverepre- 
pared for it — our stout blankets keeping us comfortable — but the snow 
very soon became too deep for the stage to proceed on wheels, so we 
were obliged to halt, and hold a consultation. 

We deter min i'il to go on, in spite of t he storm, provided we could find 
some sort of a sled large enough to take US all along. Tin about 

a dozen of us, all told, and not afraid of the weather. After consider- 
able search, we procured :i wood-sled belonging to a farmer near by ; and 
having hitched our horses to it. and enveloped ourselves in our blankets 
and buffalo-robes, the driver cracked his whip, and off we started in 
high glee. The way was rather uncertain, but soon the storm ceased, 
almost as suddenly as it commenced, and we had a splendid moonlight 
ride through the gloomy forest, arriving safely at. the Profile House. 
Here a rousing lire and a hot supper soon put us to rights, and the 
evening passed in great good humor. The next morning's sun revealed 
snow-drifts reaching twentv feet in height. 






A l r isit to the Other Side of " Cannon Mountain." 

I started off, one day. with the intention of visiting the scene of the 
great conflagration caused by a lire kindled l>v some careless company 
of gentlemen, in the woods, years ago, on 1 lie other side of "Can- 
non Mountain." Ascending by the path which leads to its top, I soon 
reached it. and struck into the pathless woods, coming out, after a while, 
directly upon the place I sought. It was a desolate waste, of fifteen 
square miles ; a wilderness of jagged and shattered rocks, charred stumps, 
and tangled briars, upon which the sun beat down in unobstructed fervor, 
making the place a very purgatory. The purgatorial appearance of the 
place was much increased by the presence of clouds of midgets, (wood- 
flies,) which pursued- me with unrelenting vigor throughout my visit, 
obliging me to keep one hand continually in motion, to defend myself 
from their attacks. I had intended to explore the place sufficiently to 
obtain a fair idea of it. and then retrace nry steps. I picked my way up 
and down, over and among the rocks, many of which were of immense 
size, and all looked as if rent and scattered by some great convulsion 
of nature, for angular shapes were universal ; there not being a round, 
naturally-shaped rock within the range of my vision. Coining to a place 
where the rocks shot sheer down for several feet, I jumped off without 
dm' calculation, and the impetus of the leap carried me much farther 
than I had intended to go. When I finally brought up, 1 found myself 
in a sort of amphitheatre, the open side of it being directly ahead of me 
in the direction I had been pursuing, while above and behind me, the 
steep ascent forbade return. I had, therefore, to keep on, and trust to 
reaching the woods at the loot of the Mountain, through which 1 must 
find my way, in a roundabout direction, to the hotel. 

The rocks around me abounded in remarkable resemblances to such 
things as tombs, pulpits, water-wheels, etc.. and but a slight stretch of 
the imagination was necessary to conjure up many other things, even 
animals ami persons, from the maze of fantastical shapes around. It 
was impossible to make haste, so I proceeded al a slow pace, slopping 
now and then to examine whatever attracted my attention; sending 
rock- down the steep places, to see them fly to splinters at the bottom, 
and otherwise jiinusing myself. 1 finally reached the woods, after a tire- 
some tramp, ami, in their cool shade, I stopped to rest and eat my lun- 
cheon. Having duly refreshed myself, I look observations, and plunged 
into the woods in the direction of home. After getting several falls, 
tearing my clothes to tatters, and being several times at fault, I found 
myself in a familial- locality, and had no further trouble in getting 
li< ■■< 



3U 

An .Avalanche on " BaZcZ Mountain." 

Tn reviewing my visit to the desolate region referred to above, my roll- 
ing of rucks down the steeps, and the effects thereof, made me desirous 
of witnessing the -Mine thing on n grander scale. 

I remembered, in one of my visits to " Bald Mountain," s i called 
from its lofty top being round and bare, to have seen an immense bou 
of granite standing upright, quite near the brink of a long, steep incline 
which shot clear from the top of the Mountain to the line of fore '. and 
far below it. [ thought it would lie fun to roll that boulder down the 
steep; but, how to do it? I paid two or three visits to the spot, to 
culate the possibility of starting it, and to ascertain what implements 
■were necessary, and how many hands would be required. Having com- 
pleted my arrangements, I broached the subject to some of the work- 
men. It was a Saturday afterix and work was did!. The idea was 

readily taken up, and a party of seven men. besides myself, stalled for 
the top of the Mountain, distant aboill five miles. We carried wooden 
levers. Arriving at the spot, we arranged our implements, and applied 
them at the proper place, having first tried our united strength on it. and 
found it immovable. As the lever was steadily applied to the rock, it 
gradually yielded ; and. as soon as its balance was sufficientl}' disturbed 
to insure ils going over, a sharp, quick jerk was given to the ha; 1 , and 
we scattered instantly, turning, as soon as we reached a safe distance, to 
watch the effect. The rock turned over slowly once or twice, and then. 
gathering headway at each revolution, it thundered down the slope at a 
fearful rate of speed, raising great clouds of smoke and dust . and drav.ino- 
streams of lire from the rocks, over which it tore its way. Wc saw it 
reach the foresl line, and we saw the tall trees go down befon 
grass before the mower's scythe, [t disappeared from view, leaving a 
Ion:', broad avenue behind it. That rock was tin' most speedy and effec- 
tive path-maker that I ever saw. After all was ^w\\ I followed the 
trail of the rock down the slope, and was astonished at the ruin it had 
wrought. It was exactl\ a-, if a tornado had been aloi 

Retracing my steps. I joined the rest in a lunch ; having finished it. 
we went leisurely hack to the Profile House, well satisfied with the result 
of our afternoon's frolic. 

Walker's Falls. 

These Falls, although well worth seeing, ami comparatively eas\' of 
access with a competent guide, are yet neglected by the great majority 
of tourists. In fact, judged by the general practice of visitors, to have 
been to the Mountains is one thing, to have been over them — to have 
•• done " them — is quite another. 



40 

1 have already related howl went in search of the gentleman who got 

lost in the attempt to find these Falls without a guide, and the incidents 
connected therewith. The next spring 1 went with a gumming party to 
guide them to the Falls. The Mountains arc covered mostly with spruce- 
trees, on which chewing-gum can be found in abundance, especially on the 
sunn}' .side of the hills. Parties often go after gum. They carry poles 
about eight feet long, having chisels fastened to the smaller end, with which 
to cut off the gum when found high up the trees. The return of such 
a party, and the distribution of the gum, causes an amount of chewing 
that would astonish a cow. The distance from the Profile House was 
about five miles. There was enough snow still on the ground to render 
it difficult to find the true path, and leaves and dead branches had been 
strewed around so thickly the previbus winter, as to increase the per- 
plexity of a first passage, to the extent of making the way rather devi- 
ous. I was several lime; at fault ; and, most of the party getting tired 
out, voted to return, which they did, and got lost, caught in a heavy 
shower, and were thoroughly soaked long before they struck the road 
leading to the hotel. Two of the party pushed on, taking me with them; 
we soon found the path, and shortly arrived at the Falls, in viewing which 
we found ample satisfaction for coming. Sated with views of the rush- 
ing waters, and the surrounding scenery from various points, we finally 
turned into the woods in search of gum. One of us struck the fresh 
track of a d ier, and, entirely forgetting the coming storm, which had been 
gradually darkening the air for some time, we gayc chase, hoping to see 
the animal. We continued the pursuit until the heavy pattering of the 
rain brought us to our senses. Halting on the top of a slight elevation, 
we saw that we were completely lost. My two companions now wished 
that they had returned with the main body of the part}', although, as it 
afterwards appeared, had they done so without me they would have 
been no better off. After some search, 1 saw a landmark which had a 
familiar look, and was sure that, by taking a downward direction, we 
should strike the bridle-path. The other two, however, insisted ongoing 
in the opposite direction, and I deferred to them so far as to let them 
trv it. although 1 was morally certain that we should become still more 
involved in the mazes of the forest. They went up and down for two 
hours, without, success, and then gave it up. By this time we were 
thoroughly wet and tired. Turning about, and bidding them follow, I 
sped down the side of the .Mountain as straight, as possible, through mud, 
mire, and bushes, over rocks, stumps, and logs, dodging here and there 
to avoid the trees, and gaining impetus at every step, until we reached 
the low lands, where I looked about for a running stream, knowing that 
if I could find one I could easily tell, by the direction in which it ran, 
which way to go. Finding one, we followed it down, and soon came to 
a familiar path, which led us safely out of the difficulty. Had the two 



11 

men been lefl to themselves, it would probabh - have been a ••gone case " 
with them. 

A few weeks nl'tcr this I went'out again, with the intention of exam- 
ining the Kails, and more thoroughly exploring their neighborhood. I 
was advised not to go, as the weather threatened to be bad ; but, even 
while admitting the fact. I went. I reached the foot of the Falls, and 
had commenced the ascent, when 1 discovered a violent thunder-storm 
approaching. There was a cave situated in the side of the cliff, which 
was called Lion's Cave, some eighty rods above Bay head, which promised 
shelter if 1 could reach it in season. I hastehed up the steep ascent, 
much of the way on my hands and knees, until I had nearly reached it. 
when my progress was barred l>v a chasm, not visible from b< low. One 
siile of the chasm was higher than the other; and, taking mv hatchet 
from my licit, i felled and lonelily trimmed a stoul sapling, which I laid 
across the chasm, and which, half-ladder, half-bridge, enabled me to cross 
and gain the coveted shelter. 1 had imagined it to be a huge clefl in the 
rock, but it proved to be only about six feet deep, and not high enough 
for me to stand up in, although I could sit eomfortabl}', and be perfectly 
sheltered. The shower bursl soon; i*ain drove in sheet- across the 

valley below me; it poured down from the Mountain above, formin 
thick, unbroken curtain before the mouth of the cave ; a miniature Niag- 
ara, in fact, which tossed and tumbled down the slope into the brook 
w, now swollen to a river. 1 enjoyed the scene vastly : but the omni- 
present midgets soon found me out, and attacked me, seriously interfer- 
ing with my pleasure, and forcing me to make a fire and smoke them 
out. In the course of an hour, the shower ceased as suddenly as it had 
begun. Descending from my elevated perch, and deferring my intended 
explorations to a future time, I wenl home, and was jeered and laughed 
at for my folly, until they discovered thai my clothes were dry, when 
they stopped laughing, and desired particulars, which I gave them. 

At another time, an old lady insisted on visiting the Falls, and en- 
gaged me as guide. In company with several men and two ladies, she 
hired a team, and set out. When \\ic party reached the spol where per- 
sons wishing to visit the Falls must alight, and take the foot-path, all 
except the old lady had changed their mind-, ami decided to keep on 
and visit the Basin. She adhered to her original intention, and. after 
ordering the team to wait for her on its return, she jumped out, and I 
followed her. the rest of the party going on. Looking up, previous to 
entering the woods, I saw that one of the sudden storms peculiar to 
Mountain regions had stolen upon us unawares, was rearing its crest 
above the tree-tops, and would soon burst upon us. If those who had 
gone on should see the storm in season, they would return at full speed : 
but that would not save any of us from a drenching, and I determined 
to risk being left for the present, and shelter my companion, (/ailing her 



42 

attention to the storm, she readily comprehended that we could not visit 
the Falls, and signified her willingness to go wherever I chose. I led 
her away some distance into the woods, to a broad, overhanging rock, 
which I had noticed in a previous ramble, underneath which I fixedseats 
for her and myself, and gol snugly settled just as the shower came on. 
The thunder roared; the Lightning flashed ; the tall forest-trees bowed 
and writhed under the violence of the wind, and the rain fell in torrents ; 
but we were sale and dry, and could calmly look out and enjoy tlie really 
sublime spectacle. The old lady was in high glee at the thought of the 
miserable plight in which the rest of the party must necessarily be, with- 
out protection of any kind. After the rain had passed awav. she list- 
ened for the team, and when she heard it coming up the road, we pro- 
ceeded to its side and waited for it to come up. It was a sorry-looking 
company that we beheld, — all wet, draggled, and woe-begone ; and we 
laughed heartily, both at their appearance and at their unfeigned astonish- 
ment at our dry and comfortable condition. We got in, and dashed 
away for the hotel, where our wet companions hurried off in search of 
dry clothing and tires. The old lady stood up all the way, declining to 
sit down where everything was soaked, and she chuckled right merrily, 
to think that insisting on going to the Falls had saved her from a wetting. 

Fireworks on Profile Lake. 

It had become a regular custom for those guests who had passed the 
season ai the Profile House, to get up some sort of a party or pic-.be 
before separating, as a fitting close for their holiday season. I almost 
always had a hand in the arrangements, for the hotel-keeper generallv 
recommended me as a handy-man on such occasions- Being somewhat 
ready-witted, and withal not afraid of a little hard work, I usually 
managed to give satisfaction. 

Once I liad been requested to make preparations for a J0II3* good time 
at the old Flume Mouse, which was then unoccupied. A party of about 
fifty ladies and gentlemen proposed to have a supper and ball, and I 
was somewhat nonplussed to arrange for their comfort, as there was no 
furniture in the building, and it was six miles distant from the Profile 
House. However, at it I went, cutting up fence-boards for tables, and 
made seats by the aid of work-benches. The dining-hall I decorated 
with evergreen as well as I could, and made it look quite respectable. 
.Many delicacies had been sent all the way from New York, and the other 
viands were procured from the Profile House. 

By dint of hard work. I managed to get all read}' for company; and 
in the afternoon a long line of carriages appeared, with flags living and 
music playing. The party was received with (\ur ceremony, and ushered 
into the parlors, where they deposited their extra clothing. Then came 



COl 



43 

t hop, and afterwards a large fire was built outside, where some 
•orn was roasted in a primitive manner. When all things were ready, 
the party was ushered into the dining-hall, and were much surprised at 
the appearance of the tables. Eveiy one seemed to enjoy the scene, 
and made the hall ring with ; heir j ikes and laughter. Thru came toasts 
and speeches, the leader of the party occupying an old wagon-seat which 
I found in the darn. Their merry-making lasted until midnight, when 
all returned to the Profile House, highly gratified with their entertain- 
ment, and unanimously voting that the whole occasion was a decided 
success, even ifil was improvised by a deaf-mute. 

But there was another occasion which, while the management of it 
bothered my brains somewhat, yet proved to he a very agreeable and 
brilliant affair. 

At a distance of about eighty rods from the hotel is a pretty sheet of 
water, called Profile Lake; or, more properly, "The old .Man's Wash- 
bowl." Surrounded by high hills and a dense forest, if has a most 
sombre appearance, particularly at night The idea was started by a 
gentleman from New York, connected with the Joxirnal of Commerce, 
and another from Philadelphia, of having a row on the lake at in^ht. 
with a grand display of fireworks. When asked if I understood how to 
manage the rockets, etc., I had to plead partial ignorance; but did not 
doubt that I could make a proper display with a little instruction. So 
the whole arrangement of the night's display was left to me, and a l>u-\ 
time I had of it for two day--: the fireworks had been ordered ft 
Boston, and arrived in due time. Procuring all the boats that could be 
found on Echo Lake and Profile Lake, eighteen in all, we had th 
cleaned, and fitted up with a Chinese lantern at each v\u\. I went to the 
other ei I • ike, about a quarter of a mile from the boat-house, and 

prepared a big pile of dry and green don- . twigs and bru >h, all ready 
for a bonfire. Then I had a large ball, some two feet in diam iter, made 
of rags, well smeared with tar, fastened to the topofa pole about twelve 
feet high, which I set on a float made from an old b; . and 

anchored it in the mi f the lake. 

When the evening came, I was all ready for our grand celebration. 
Before the select party who were to occupy the boats arrived, with the 
assistance of one man. I had all the Chinese lanterns lighted up with 
sperm candles, presenting a very pretty spectacle. Then came the party 
down the road, headed by a band of music, and followed by nearly all 
the guests from the hotel who wished to witness the novel scene. Our 
brilliant (led of boats was quickly filled by the ladies and gentlemen, 
with the band, while I had gone oul into the lake in a boat, with one 
assistant to help me about the rockets, which I fired from time to time 
amid the cheers of the spectators. The effect was very brilliant, for the 
night was very dark, and no stars appeared to interfere with the general 



44 

effect. The glare of the rockets and Roman candles presented a mag- 
nificent, yet peculiarly sombre appearance, which quite astonished the 
spectators, who fairly yelled with delight. I could see by the light of 
the lanterns, that the party in the boats were quite excited, waving their 
handkerchiefs and huzzaing. 

I now pushed off to the pile of brush and lighted it, and quickly 
rowed away, so that I might not be seen. It soon worked up into a 
strong blaze, causing the flames to ascend some forty feet ; this had a 
n<>vrl effect, lighting up the whole lake. After this had subsided, I set 
fire to the grand illuminator on the float, which I did by means of a rag 
saturated with oil, at the end of a long stick ; at the same time setting 
the raft to rocking, so that the pole appeared to wave to and fro, like 
a vessel on a high sea. The effect of this was very brilliant, also, and it 
burned quite a while. The performance closed with another display 
of fireworks, the various colors having a peculiarly beautiful effect with 
such weird surroundings. The party appeared to be satisfied with the 
entertainment, and rowing back to the boat-house, they landed, taking 
the Chinese lanterns for company, marched back to the hotel, enlivening 
the way with songs and cheers. On arriving at the hotel a sumptuous 
supper was in readiness, and a hop in the grand saloon closed the 
evening's amusement. I received many thanks for my part of the per- 
formance, and I look- back with much pleasure upon that evening spent 
on Profile Lake. 

One incident somewhat marred the enjoyment of one of the party, — 
a lady, who disdained any assistance on leaving the boat. Being 
rather stout and solid, she contrived, while standing upon the edge of 
the boat and trying to spring upon the platform, to push the boat away 
from it. and her ladyship fell plump into the water.. She was quickly 
rescued, but thoroughly soaked ; and quite disgusted with the sudden 
change of scene. Hurrying to the hotel, she was quickly arrayed in dvy 
clothing, and means to be a little more careful next time. 

The next morning one of (he guests, seeing the preparations for leav- 
ing by so many of his friends, concluded to attempt one more piece of 
fun ; and so, before the stages were ready, he called me to his aid with 
half a dozen others of the employes, lie rigged ns up in grotesque 
costumes, consisting of the oldest and oddest garments that could be 
found, (inns, brooms, or wooden swords furnished our armament ; and 
with huge pieces of tin upon our breasts, we presented an appearance much 
like Falstaff's brave arm}*. Thus equipped as genuine country police, we 
waited in a side-room until the stages began to fill up, when we suddenly 
marched out, and going directly into the office of the hotel, pretended 
that there had been some pickpockets at work. We arrested several 

of the t prominent of the party, and took them into one of the public 

rooms, where we searched them, ami made a pretence of finding the lost 



45 

wallets. A mock trial was commenced at unci'; and il being oon 
discovered that it was all a sham, the evidenc ocee le 1. to - 
amusement of the bystanders. The jury finally acquitted the prisoners 
of any positive act of wrong-doing, and they were dismissed b}' the 
learned judge, with an injunction to be careful and never do so again, 
or the majesty of the law might visit them with some punishmci 
to eo! i tempi ate. 'I'll is farce ov< r, the departing guests gave us a round 
of cheers, and they rolled away to the duties and can ife in the 

outside world. 

After so much fun and amusement, 1 found it rather hard to - 
down again to daily labor; but the summer was passing, and there 
work to he done before cold weather should put an embargo on our 
labors. So I soon set t led down to it, and gave my brains n i pell, 

while my hands and tools found plenty to do to keep off an3' sense of 
loneliness. 



MY LAST ADVENTURE, AND A TRIP AROUND 
'nil-; MOUNTAINS. 



A- cold weather was app ! the work so far completed to 

the satisfaction of the proprietor of the hotel, all the workmen were 
dismissed, and informed their services would not in- requir rear ; 

so 1 concluded on bidding adieu to the Mo until 

I had calculated on making further explorations, in other ible 

places, it' I had time and opportunity, but finally gave up the i 
ting somewhat wearied of the " Adventures." i ther mv 

thoughts to Boston, as the most suitabl fi 'Id for mc ; 
welfare of the Deaf-Mutes ; but before taking my final leave, : 
on a trip around the White .Mountains, intending to make th 
of my t ime. 

Packing up my tools and trunk, I forwarded them \v liing 

■to encumber myself with anything but a warm blankc 

pleasant journey — one hundred and thirt 
ing, as tin' weather was unusually pleasanl ; t of the year. 

Bidding adieu to all my friend u iped on top of the 

■-coach, not caring 1 • ride in id': if I had don i, many beautiful 
views would have been lo I ight of. My fir I ;top a1 

i ethlehem ; 1 made my way to the Bethlehem Hotel, wh i [met an 
old friend, who had been famous anion 1 the mountain people for his 
daring adventures, far eclipsing my own. It was he who offered to bet 
a sum of money that he would wheel a bag of corn, on a wheelbarrow, 
to Plymouth, thirty miles up and down hill . .add 



4G 

win, that the loser should pay the stake, and provide him with a situa- 
tion in one of the hotels. He was successful in his undertaking, though 
it was a very arduous task, taking a day and a half to accomplish. He 
rested at the Profile House the night he performed his feat. The wheel- 
barrow he used was decorated and varnished, and hung up in a conspic- 
uous place in the hotel, with his name inscribed on it, as a reward for 
his triumph. 

The view, as seen from the Bethlehem Hotel, was very fine, and in the 
distance loomed up Mount Washington, the direction which 1 intended to 
take. Leaving Bethlehem, we were pleasantly jogging along when sud- 
denly, almost, a heavy rain-storm set in. Two of the men who sat on top 
with me jumped off, and got inside the coach, which was already full, 
leaving me to keep company with the driver. I was not in the least dis- 
comfited, but wrapped myself up snugly in my blanket, and pulled down 
the rim of my hat, and in a few moments 1 was drenched through and 
through. Not having any change of clothing with me, I was in a sorry 
plight, but resolved to make the best of.it. In a short time the storm 
abated, and the sun shone out beautifully, and by its heat I partially 
dried my clothes, and soon reached the White Mountain House, where 
half an hour was allowed for changing horses, which I availed myself of 
by getting thoroughly dry in the kitchen. 

After a ride < f thirty miles 1 reached the Crawford House, and was 
immediately recognized by several who knew me, and invited to stay 
there, free of all charge. Not having time to spare, I hastened back 
three miles to the depot of the railroad up Mount Washington, and had 
the satisfaction of examining the engine and track; but was sorely 
disappointed at not having a chance to ride up, though fully satisfied of 
the greatness of its undertaking. Early next morning, before the guests 
were up, I had some lunch ready; and. with my cane for a companion, 
determined to take a day's tramp, and visit the Elephant. The outline 
of the rock shows the head, ear. proboscis and mouth. The Silver Cas- 
cade is a beautiful fall ; the Pulpit is a curious, towering rock, by the 
fool of the mountain ; the Old Maid of the Mount, and the Young Man 
of the Mountain, the Infant and the Wile}' House, so famous in history 
for the destruction of a whole family of seven by an avalanche of snow 
and rock, were examined minutely, affording me much pleasure. 

The Old Maid and the Young Man disappointed me somewhat, for I 
had an idea their faces were as attractive as " The Old Man." The 
outlines were not half as good as my old friend's. The Devil's Den, the 
Apron, and other places of interest were visited. I was not in the least 
molested by the midgets, as they had nearly disappeared with the 
approach of cold weather. The Wile} 7 House is a very interesting place 
to visit ; it contains several articles which belonged to the ill-fated 
family before mentioned, such as a table, crockery-ware, boots, hats, 



47 

guns, etc. In most of tlic rooms the names of visitors are written all 
over the walls. I Inscribed my name high up on the wall, having the 
advantage, in height, over most of the guests. I visited the spot where 
the unfortunate family arc buried, and the great rock that rolled down 
the mountain. It seems they had been deceived by the echos of the 
rolling avalanche, and fled in the wrong direction ; they would have hern 
saved had they gone across the road, on the opposite side. Their house 
stood uninjured. 

Having satisfied my curiosity, I made my way hack to the Crawford 
House, a distance of six miles. The sun was setting, and a rain-storm 
approaching from behind the mountain. Being three miles from the 
hotel, or any house to shelter me. I did not like the idea of being 
drenched, as I was before, by the Rain Fiend, as I called it : and for- 
tunately 1 discovered a projecting rock a few rods from where I stood. 
and fled to it, barely reaching it before the rain poured down in torrents. ■ 
I chuckled over my luck, for I always considered myself a lucky fellow. 
The rain over, I was glad to come out with dry clothes. I soon 
reached the hotel, and ate n hearty supper, for I was " ;is hungry as a 
wolf." 

The next morning I met a man of whom I had some knowledge, who 
had been guide and servant at the Profile House, lie was poor when I 
first knew him. hut now he wore gold and diamond rings, and was very 
fashionably dressed, lie had just married a rich heiress, from New 
York. It seems he was acting as a guide up Mount Washington, and 
amongst the party was a lady on horseback, who, at first sight, became 
violently enamored of him. After some billing and cooing, they were 
married, and he now rides in a two-horse carriage. lb' was a lucky 
fellow, indeed, and I wished myself in his place; hut, on second thought. 
I remembered I had a loving wife, which is tar better than a rich heiress. 

The ride up Mount Washington had been entirely stopped, on account 
of the great danger of being caught in frost-clouds, which sadly dis- 
appointed me, for I desired to see the Tip To]) House, and all the 
surrounding hills, but especially the monument of Lizzie Bourne, in 
whose fate I felt a lively interest. She had gone up with her uncle, a 
doctor, late in the season, and late in the afternoon, without a guide, and 
Contrary to the advice of their friends. They both got lost in their 
ascent, and wandered about till dark. She had gone out of the path, 
and wandered among the bushes and shrubs, until nearly all her clothes 
were torn oil'; and, unable to stand the cold, she fell down and died. 
The doctor was discovered, nearly frozen, keeping guard over her. ami 
was rescued. She was greatly mourned, and her remains were sent 
home. A monumi nt was erected to her memory by her friends, with 
rocks found on the spot where she died. 

It had been mv intention to cross the Mountain to the ('den House. 



48 

but I was dissuaded from it, no guide being willing to risk going up with 
me. To think of further sta}' would prove of no advantage to me, so I 
decided to hurry home direct, instead of carrying out my plan, and was 
sadly disappointed. I bade good-by to the Crawford Mouse, and took 
stage direct to Centre Harbor. One little incident I witnessed, which I 
shall never forget : As we were riding down a hill, I noticed a beautiful 
girl sitting on a chair, a rod or more from a lonely dwelling-house by the 
road-side, holding a pan in her lap, and in it were some blackberries in 
boxes of white birch. She was waiting the approach of stages to sell 
berries to passengers, as had been her custom. The horses were a little 
unmanageable, and the driver tried to stop them, putting his foot on the 
break to allow the passengers to dismount and purchase the berries ; but 
the whiffle-tree behind the horses knocked her over, and spilled them all. 
I discovered she had but one leg. She was an exceedingly pretty girl, 
and her head was covered with a profusion of curls. Fortunately she was 
not hurt : but being unable to stand up, and overpowered with grief at the 
loss of her berries, it was truly pitiable to see her. All the passengers 
heartily sympathized with her; they jumped out, raised her up, and 
kissed her, lifting her on her chair. Her hands were soon well-filled with 
icy, to compensate her for the fright and loss. She was as meek as 
she was beautiful. How she came to lose her leg, I never learnt. 

Reaching the Centre House, and crossing Winnipiseogee Lake on the 
steamer Lady of the Lake, 1 took the cars and readied home, nighty 
gratified with my Three ("Summers' Adventures. 



B O S T O N 

DEAF-MUTE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



This enterprise, Inaugurated by the Deaf-Mutes, has proved of much benefit 
to them as a distinct class of our citizens. Their numbers in and about the city 
are considerable ; and, deprived as they are by nature of many of the ordinarj 
modes of enjoyment of their fellows, it meets a want before unprovided for. 
They d<> not wish to be always at home, and more especially in their boarding- 
places, where they seldom find anyonewilling to take time to correspond with 
them. They need the same relaxation and social enjoyment as otbers more 
favored by nature. 

Most of the Deal' Mutes in Boston are from the country, and are all the more 
impressible by the sights of the city. The Public Library is not the place for 
them, because they are not at home there. They need some place where positive 
contact witli their brother and sister mutes will tend to develop their minds, 
which must be exercised to be of use 

The object of the Library Association is to provide a pleasant Heading-Room 
and Lecture-Hall for all Deaf-Mutes, where they can meet their companions, 
read the papers and books, attend lectures, enjoy pictures, and talk as much as 
they please ; — for it is a blessed bcon so to do. 

Their rooms, at Xo. 289 Washington Street, are convenient, attractive, and 
comfortable, and will be improved as opportunity offers. 

Various plans are in contemplation for extending its usefulness to all the Deaf- 
Mutes, resident or travelling. 

( > F PIC E 1{S. 
Directors, 

EDWIN N. BOWES, JONATHAN V. MARSH, WM. B. SWETTi 

JJKNJiV A. OSGOOD, CHARLES A. DOUGLAS 

President, 

ELIAS J. WELCH. 

Secretary i 

WM. 1'. WADE. 

Treasurer, 

WALLACE II. KRAUSE. 

Librarian uml Manager, 

V.. X. BOWES. 

Auditor, 

WM. BAILEY. 

finance ( 'ommitlei . 

I IIOM \s AYER8, CHARLES I' WISH, \\\ p. WADE. 

Trustees, 

■'■ ''• MARSH, h. A . OSGOOD. 

Vollectors of Subscriptions, 

WM. ACHESON, JOHN i). DAVID, ADAM ACHESON. 



T 



-*-# 



The proceeds arising from the sale of 
this Pamphlet, go to the fund of the 
Boston Deaf-Mute Mission. 

Please take one or more. 

Price 25 Cents. 



Any Donations for the Mission will be gratefully received. 



Periodical Dealers can be supplied with this Pamphlet at 
wholesale price. 



Send all orders, with address, to Wm. B. Swett, Library 
Room, 289 Washington Street, Boston, Mass., to which 
prompt attention will be given. 



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